Agricultural Equipment Operators
Drive and control farm equipment to till soil and to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops. 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.
AI Impact Summary
Agricultural Equipment Operators faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 38/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 53% of all analyzed occupations. Of 17 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
6
AI-Vulnerable
7
AI-Resistant
5
AI-Augmented
AI-Vulnerable
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
17 tasks analyzed
Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.
Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions. | 5 | 11.0% | 10% |
| Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions. | 65 | 53.0% | 8% |
| Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps. | 5 | 11.0% | 6% |
| Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery. | 35 | 47.0% | 5% |
| Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment. | 60 | 57.0% | 15% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 17.5%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$42,580
per year
Mean Wage
$43,920
per year
Employment
31K
workers
Wage Range
$31,240 - $57,790
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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