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Agricultural Technicians

Agricultural Technicians score 32 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #506 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 26 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 4 on its own and 7 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

32/ 100
Moderate
Rank
#506of 923 jobs
US workers
15,130BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$49,630a year
In real AI use
3 of 26tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

  • AI can speed this up on its own: 4 (15%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 7 (27%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 15 (58%)
  • Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
  • Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
  • Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Conduct insect or plant disease surveys.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Collect animal or crop samples.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
  • Prepare culture media, following standard procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Life, Physical, and Social Science occupations close to this one.

Questions about agricultural technicians and AI

Will AI replace agricultural technicians?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Agricultural Technicians score 32 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #506 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 11 of the job's 26 tasks, 4 of them on its own, while 15 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which agricultural technicians tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care"; "Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results"; "Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public".

Which agricultural technicians tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing"; "Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing"; "Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 26 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as agricultural technicians, and what do they earn?

About 15,130 people in the US, with median pay of $49,630 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

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