Agricultural Equipment Operators

Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste. May perform tasks such as crop baling or hay bucking. May operate stationary equipment to perform post-harvest tasks such as husking, shelling, threshing, and ginning.

On the job, you would:

Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.

Important Qualities

Dexterity. Agricultural workers need excellent hand-eye coordination to harvest crops and operate farm machinery.

Listening skills. Agricultural workers must listen carefully to ensure that they understand instructions from farmers and other agricultural managers and supervisors.

Mechanical skills. Agricultural workers must be able to operate complex farm machinery. They also occasionally do routine maintenance on the equipment.

Physical stamina. Agricultural workers must have physical endurance because they do laborious tasks repeatedly.

Physical strength. Agricultural workers must be strong enough to lift heavy objects, including tools and crops.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		71%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		71%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		70%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		69%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		69%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		66%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		63%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		61%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		60%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		58%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		58%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		57%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		56%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		56%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		53%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		52%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		56%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		72%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
		72%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
		66%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		60%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		60%	Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
		60%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		56%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		56%	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
		56%	Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
		56%	Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
		56%	Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
		53%	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
		53%	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
		53%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
		53%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		53%	Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
		53%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		54%	Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
		52%	Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.

Confer with managers to make operational decisions.

Inspect equipment or facilities to determine condition or maintenance needs.

Operate irrigation systems.

Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.

Prepare materials or solutions for animal or plant use.

Operate farming equipment.

Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.

Operate farming equipment.

Direct activities of agricultural, forestry, or fishery employees.

Load materials into equipment for processing.

Apply chemical solutions to plants to protect against disease or insects or to enhance growth.

Attach equipment extensions or accessories.

Operate farming equipment.

Plant crops, trees, or other plants.

Operate farming equipment.

Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.

Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.

Load agricultural or forestry products for shipment.

Operate conveyors or other industrial material moving equipment.

Attach equipment extensions or accessories.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		83%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		79%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		77%	In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
		73%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		72%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		70%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		68%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		67%	In an Open Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)?
		67%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		66%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		65%	Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
		61%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		60%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		60%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		55%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		53%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		53%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		53%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		53%	Outdoors, Under Cover - How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (e.g., structure with roof but no walls)?
		51%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		85%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		86%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		82%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		80%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		79%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		79%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		77%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		74%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		73%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		69%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		68%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		65%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		65%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		64%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		63%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		62%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		62%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		60%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		60%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		59%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		55%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		55%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		54%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		52%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

What Agricultural Workers Do

Agricultural workers operate farm machinery.

Agricultural workers maintain crops and tend livestock. They perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers.

Duties

Agricultural workers typically do the following:

Plant, inspect, and harvest crops
Irrigate farm soil and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps
Operate and service farm machinery and tools
Apply fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungi, and weeds
Move plants, shrubs, and trees with wheelbarrows or tractors
Feed livestock and clean and disinfect their cages, pens, and yards
Examine animals to detect symptoms of illnesses or injuries and administer vaccines to protect animals from diseases
Use brands, tags, or tattoos to mark livestock ownership and grade
Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures

The following are examples of types of agricultural workers:

Agricultural equipment operators use a variety of farm equipment to plow and sow seeds, as well as to maintain and harvest crops. They may use machines such as tractors, balers, conveyor belts, fertilizer spreaders, and threshers. Workers also may adjust and make minor repairs to the machines and equipment.

Animal breeders select animals that will mate and produce offspring with desired traits and characteristics. For example, they breed chickens that lay more eggs, pigs that produce leaner meat, and sheep with more desirable wool. Others breed and raise cats, dogs, and other household pets.

To know which animals to breed and when to breed them, animal breeders keep detailed records. Breeders note an animal’s health, size, and weight, as well as the amount and quality of its product or byproduct. Animal breeders also track the traits of animals’ offspring.

Some animal breeders consult with farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers about their livestock.

Crop, nursery, and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers perform numerous tasks related to growing and harvesting grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other crops. They plant, seed, prune, irrigate, and harvest crops, and pack and load them for shipment.

Farmworkers also apply fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides to crops. They repair fences and some farm equipment.

Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products, such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. They also plant, water, prune, weed, and spray the plants. They may cut, roll, and stack sod; stake trees; tie, wrap, and pack plants to fill orders; and dig up or move field-grown shrubs and trees.

Farm and ranch animal farmworkers care for live animals, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. These animals usually are raised to supply meat, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, or honey.

Farmworkers may feed, herd, brand, weigh, and load animals. They also keep records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides.

Many workers clean and maintain animal housing areas every day. On dairy farms, animal farmworkers operate milking machines.

Work Environment

Agricultural workers held about 804,600 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up agricultural workers was distributed as follows:

Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	523,500
Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals	199,400
Agricultural equipment operators	64,000
Agricultural workers, all other	11,200
Animal breeders	6,500

The largest employers of agricultural workers were as follows:

Crop production	54%
Animal production and aquaculture	24
Wholesale trade	5
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	3

Agricultural workers usually do their tasks outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Agricultural workers’ jobs may be difficult. To harvest fruits and vegetables by hand, workers frequently bend and crouch. They also lift and carry crops and tools that may be heavy.

Injuries and Illnesses

Agricultural work may be dangerous. Although agricultural workers may be exposed to pesticides applied on crops or plants, the risk is minimized if workers follow safety procedures. Tractors and other farm machinery may cause serious injuries, so workers must stay alert. Additionally, agricultural workers who deal directly with animals risk being bitten, kicked, or stung.

Work Schedules

Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because living crops and animals need constant care, workers’ schedules may vary to include early mornings, weekends, and holidays.

Many agricultural workers have seasonal schedules. Seasonal schedules typically include longer periods of work during planting or harvesting or when animals must be sheltered and fed.

Some agricultural workers, called migrant farmworkers, move from location to location as crops ripen. Their unsettled lifestyles and periods of unemployment between jobs may cause stress.

Getting Started

Education:

57%

Less than a High School Diploma

19%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

How to Become an Agricultural Worker

Agricultural workers typically receive on-the-job training once they are hired.

Most agricultural workers do not need a formal educational credential to enter these occupations; however, animal breeders typically need at least a high school diploma. Agricultural workers typically receive on-the-job training.

Education

Agricultural workers typically need no formal educational credential. However, animal breeders typically need a high school diploma, and some jobs require postsecondary education.

Training

Many agricultural workers receive short-term on-the-job training of up to 1 month. Employers instruct them on how to use simple farming tools and complex machinery while following safety procedures. Agricultural equipment operators may need more extensive training before being allowed to operate expensive farming equipment.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Some agricultural workers, especially those who operate equipment, need a valid driver’s license. Agricultural workers who handle pesticides might need a pesticide applicator license. And in a few states, certain types of animal breeders must be licensed. Check with your state licensing boards for more information.

Other Experience

Animal breeders sometimes need work experience interacting with livestock. Ranch workers may transition into animal breeding after they become more familiar with animals and learn how to handle them.

Some agricultural equipment operators might need work experience on a farm or operating heavy equipment.

Advancement

Agricultural workers may advance to crew leader or other supervisory positions. The ability to speak both English and Spanish is helpful for agricultural supervisors.

Some agricultural workers aspire to become farmers, ranchers, or agricultural managers or to own their own farms and ranches. Knowledge of produce and livestock may provide an excellent background for becoming buyers or purchasing agents of farm products. Those who earn a college degree in agricultural science could become agricultural or food scientists.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to decline 2 percent from 2022 to 2032.

Despite declining employment, about 115,700 openings for agricultural workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of agricultural workers varies by occupation (see table). Despite increased demand for crops and other agricultural products, demand for some types of farmworkers and agricultural workers is expected to be limited as agricultural establishments continue to use technologies that increase farmworkers’ productivity.

Employment of agricultural equipment operators is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations and faster than any other type of agricultural worker over the projections decade. Increased use of mechanization on farms is expected to lead to more jobs for agricultural equipment operators relative to farmworkers and laborers.

Small farms that sell their products directly to consumers through venues such as farmers’ markets might create opportunities for some agricultural workers.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about agricultural workers, visit

Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs

For more information about careers in agriculture, visit

AgExplorer, National FFA Organization

New Farmers, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of agricultural workers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Agricultural and Food Science Technicians	Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists.	Associate's degree	$46,140
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers run establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.	High school diploma or equivalent	$75,760
Forest and Conservation Workers	Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands.	High school diploma or equivalent	$32,270
Grounds Maintenance Workers	Grounds maintenance workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.	See How to Become One	$36,160
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks.	High school diploma or equivalent	$34,740
Animal Care and Service Workers	Animal care and service workers attend to or train animals.	High school diploma or equivalent	$29,790

Agricultural Equipment Operators

Agricultural Worker

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Agricultural Workers Do

Duties

Work Environment

Injuries and Illnesses

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become an Agricultural Worker

Education

Training

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Other Experience

Advancement

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations