AITakeover Tracker
28%medium risk

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.

Higher risk than 31% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Agricultural Equipment Operators faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 28/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 31% 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

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Information Ordering5%

Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Reading Comprehension10%

Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Equipment Maintenance78%

Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningWritingSystems AnalysisTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Agricultural Equipment Operators skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-6.5pt risk+$2K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Courserabeginner

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

by Google

~5 months$49/mo4.8Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Critical Thinking

Estimated Impact

-4.6pt risk+$2K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Coursera

Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence

by Case Western Reserve University

32 hours$49/mo4.8Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Social Perceptiveness

Estimated Impact

-3.5pt risk+$2K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Less than High School42%
High School Diploma51%
Some College6%
Bachelor's Degree1%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

Up to 1 month10%
1-3 months1%
3-6 months68%
6 months - 1 year2%
1-2 years2%
2-4 years17%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None6%
Up to 1 month7%
1-3 months1%
3-6 months40%
6 months - 1 year41%
1-2 years1%
2-4 years4%

How AI Impacts Each Task

17 tasks analyzed

Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 8%

Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 5%

Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 4%

Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 4%

Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.

Risk: 27.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 20%

Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.

Risk: 59.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 10%

Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 5%

Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 5%

Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops.

Risk: 25.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 15%

Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 5%

Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals.

Risk: 43.0%AI: 25EstimatedTime: 2%

Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information.

Risk: 86.0%AI: 92EstimatedTime: 2%

Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 5%

Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products.

Risk: 67.0%AI: 85EstimatedTime: 2%

Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 2%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 22.6%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Attention to DetailAnalytical ThinkingSelf ControlStress ToleranceIndependenceInitiativeConcern for OthersAchievement/EffortPersistenceDependabilityAdaptability/FlexibilityLeadership

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

$31,240Median: $42,580$57,790
Career Planning

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Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Agricultural Equipment Operators professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Information Ordering

    Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Memorization

    Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Manual Dexterity

    Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 3 scoring runs

-9.1

overall change

Checking for existing plan...

Related News

Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

2 articles

Vibe-Coding Startup Lovable Hits $400 Million Recurring Revenue

A startup's rapid revenue growth highlights an industry shift toward using artificial intelligence to replace traditional programming roles.

Bloomberg Technology4d ago

Canopii looks to succeed where past indoor farms have not

Canopii is developing autonomous robotic farms capable of producing massive crop yields, potentially reducing the need for human agricultural labor.

TechCrunch AI5d ago