Agricultural Technicians
Machines can already do 31% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 67%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Agricultural Technicians in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 31% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 1% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 67% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 15,130 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $49,630 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 66% for contact with people.
- Also called: Agricultural Research Technician (Agricultural Research Tech), Agricultural Research Technologist, Agricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech), Agriculture Assistant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care | 10% | 70% to 95% | |
| Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Collect animal or crop samples | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks | 5% | 45% to 85% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills agricultural technicians use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Cooks, Restaurant59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $37,390
- Machinists64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,750
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $92,100
- Histotechnologists54% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Agricultural Technicians?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of agricultural technicians?
Machines can do 31% of the tasks of agricultural technicians today and 67% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 19-4012.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Agricultural Technicians: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/agricultural-technicians/