Agricultural Equipment Operators

High Risk
Low High

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Why it fits

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
3.9/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

62% (High Risk)

High Risk (61-80%): This occupation shows a significant risk of end-to-end replacement by automation. Many core parts of the role may be structured, repeatable, software-driven, or physically predictable enough for AI, machines, or robotic systems to take over. If you work in this area, it may be worth exploring safer related careers or moving towards more human-centred responsibilities.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Thinking creatively

Quite important
Why this matters
Coming up with original ideas and designs—creating new concepts, products, systems, or artistic work. This kind of open-ended invention and taste-based judgment is harder to automate end-to-end than routine, rule-based tasks.
Jobs that also use this strength

Coordinating others’ work

Quite important
Why this matters
Bringing people together, assigning tasks, and keeping a group aligned so work gets done.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 13 votes

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Agricultural Equipment Operators will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Pay & outlook

Wages

Very low paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators was $42,580 ($20 per hour).

The median annual wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators was 14.0% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Very fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Agricultural Equipment Operators' job openings is expected to rise 7.7% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 30,940 people employed as 'Agricultural Equipment Operators' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 4 thousand people are employed as 'Agricultural Equipment Operators'.

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What people are saying (1)

jessica
26 Jun 2023 18:15
Center pivot irrigation systems are highly efficient and widely used in agriculture to ensure optimal water distribution for crops. The success of these systems heavily relies on the quality and reliability of their components. From the sturdy pivot point to the precision sprinklers and control systems, each component plays a crucial role in maximizing irrigation efficiency and crop yield.

When it comes to sourcing center pivot components, Flatwater Sales stands out as a trusted provider. With their extensive range of high-quality products and solutions specifically designed for center pivot irrigation, they offer reliable and durable parts that meet the needs of farmers and irrigation professionals. Whether you require pivot points, sprinklers, control panels, or other related components, Flatwater Sales has you covered.
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Job description

Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste. 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.

O*NET-SOC code: 45-2091.00