Agricultural Technicians
Official O*NET title: Agricultural Technicians (19-4012.00)
Also called: agricultural research technician, agricultural research technologist, agricultural technician, agriculture assistant, agronomy research technician
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing agricultural technicians work
1 of 9 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 11%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Operate farm machinery (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to make sure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform crop production duties (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Collect animal or crop samples (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public — some recorded AI use
- Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results — some recorded AI use
- Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations — some recorded AI use
- Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to make sure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification — no recorded AI use
- Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to make sure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively — no recorded AI use
- Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing — no recorded AI use
- Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability — no recorded AI use
- Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen meters to perform tests — no recorded AI use
- Supervise pest or weed control operations — no recorded AI use
- Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent — no recorded AI use
- Conduct insect or plant disease surveys — no recorded AI use
- Perform general nursery duties — no recorded AI use
- Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management practices — no recorded AI use
- Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas — no recorded AI use
- Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants — no recorded AI use
- Prepare culture media, following standard procedures — no recorded AI use
- Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public”. Try the prompt for: “Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and agricultural technicians
Will AI replace agricultural technicians?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 1 of the 9 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 22 of the 26 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which agricultural technician tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: respond to general inquiries or requests from the public; prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results; prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.
Which agricultural technician tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring; operate farm machinery; record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 44% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a agricultural technician start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Agricultural Technicians ranks #446 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #43 of 45 in Science & Research.
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