Agricultural Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Agricultural Technicians fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Agricultural Technicians earn a median salary of $46,790 per year, ranking in the top 72% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do agricultural technicians earn?

The median annual wage for agricultural technicians is $46,790. That puts agricultural technicians at #586 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is agricultural technicians a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for agricultural technicians is +4.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 18K positions in 2024 to 19K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do agricultural technicians do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working agricultural technicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
2. 2.Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
3. 3.Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
4. 4.Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
5. 5.Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.
6. 6.Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.
7. 7.Collect animal or crop samples.
8. 8.Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.

Top skills for agricultural technicians

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become agricultural technician?

The standard path into agricultural technicians begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Physicists
  $166,290 median
• Political Scientists
  $139,380 median
• Astronomers
  $132,170 median
• Physical Scientists, All Other
  $117,960 median
• Psychologists, All Other
  $117,580 median
• Economists
  $115,440 median

Common questions parents ask about agricultural technicians