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 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 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.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Agricultural Equipment Operators skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
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
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.
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% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 22.6%
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
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
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12%Median salary: $62,060
Higher risk than 0% of other occupations
Pile-Driver Operators
20%Median salary: $70,510
Higher risk than 6% of other occupations
Pipelayers
22%Median salary: $48,710
Higher risk than 10% of other occupations
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
23%Higher risk than 13% of other occupations
Helpers--Carpenters
24%Median salary: $41,600
Higher risk than 16% of other occupations
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
27%Median salary: $48,350
Higher risk than 25% of other occupations
Dredge Operators
33%Median salary: $48,430
Higher risk than 55% of other occupations
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
34%Median salary: $39,950
Higher risk than 63% of other occupations
Loading Machine Operators, Underground Mining
37%Higher risk than 72% of other occupations
Wellhead Pumpers
42%Median salary: $70,010
Higher risk than 86% of other occupations
Logging Equipment Operators
20%Higher risk than 7% of other occupations
Fallers
24%Higher risk than 17% of other occupations
Log Graders and Scalers
46%Higher risk than 93% of other occupations
Agricultural Workers, All Other
Logging Workers, All Other
Carpenters
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
overall change
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