Precision Agriculture Technicians
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
Also called: Agriculture Specialist, Agriculture Technician (Agriculture Tech), Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist), Agronomist, Agronomy Consultant, Agronomy Specialist
Median pay
$49,630
Pay for the broader BLS group “Agricultural Technicians”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,980 – $76,480
People employed
15,130
Whole BLS group
Holland code
RIC
Realistic · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
Precision Agriculture Technicians pay by state
Annual median pay by state (39 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Agricultural Technicians”.
What precision agriculture technicians do
- 01Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- 02Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- 03Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
- 04Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- 05Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- 06Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Sales and Marketing
- Mathematics
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from precision agriculture technicians
- Agricultural Engineers75% · —
- Conservation Scientists73% · —
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians69% · —
- Energy Auditors68% · group pay
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians68% · —
Majors that lead here
- Agriculture, General
- Animal Sciences, General
- Dairy Science
- Poultry Science
- Plant Sciences, General
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Soil Science and Agronomy, General
- Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs, Other
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.