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.
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.
Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.
Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops.
Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers.
Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals.
Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information.
Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products.
Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment. | 45Estimated | 27.0% | 20% | |
| Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 10% | |
| Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 5% | |
| Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers. | 20Estimated | 41.0% | 3% | |
| Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools. | 15Estimated | 39.0% | 5% | |
| Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops. | 40Estimated | 25.0% | 15% | |
| Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals. | 25Estimated | 43.0% | 2% | |
| Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products. | 85Estimated | 67.0% | 2% | |
| Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
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.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
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 Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Recommended Courses
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
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SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
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Google UX Design Professional Certificate
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Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
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Score History
Risk score over 3 scoring runs
overall change
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
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

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Texas drops ban on commercial drivers licenses for temporary farm workers
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As farming goes high tech, universities grow new types of agriculture degrees
Universities in agricultural hubs are overhauling curricula to train students in drone operation, robotics, and AI crop management. The shift aims to prepare the next generation of farmers for an industry increasingly reliant on automation rather than manual labor.

USDA would get more AI grants, research, farmer education under new Senate bill
A new bipartisan Senate bill aims to boost US agricultural competitiveness by funding AI research and training programs for farmers. The legislation focuses on upskilling agricultural workers to integrate new technologies into their daily operations.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis