Precision Agriculture Technicians
Use specialized technology to improve agricultural processes.
Quick Facts
Wages: |
Median wages for the broader occupation, Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other, are
$27.62
/ hour.
|
Education: |
|
On the Job: |
Typical Work Tasks
- Conduct climatological research.
- Research crop management methods.
- Analyze environmental data.
- Analyze geological or geographical data.
Read more about the job
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Job Title Examples: |
Agronomist
Crop Specialist
Research Soil Scientist
See more job title examples
|
View All Career Information
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
On the Job
Precision Agricultural Technicians use advanced techniques to improve agricultural processes. For example, they may use geographic information systems (GIS) or global positioning systems (GPS) to make decisions. Their work may focus on the best methods for applying pesticides, irrigating crops, or finding pests.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Conduct climatological research.
- Research crop management methods.
- Analyze environmental data.
- Analyze geological or geographical data.
- Prepare operational reports.
- Record research or operational data.
- Advise others on the development or use of new technologies.
- Apply knowledge or research findings to address environmental problems.
- Prepare maps.
- Develop agricultural methods.
Typical Working Conditions
- Using e-mail.
- Working in a closed vehicle or equipment.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working with a group or team.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Education & Credentials
This is a new or emerging specialty. The information on this page is based on the broader career that this specialty is part of,
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other.
Educational Requirements
Not available
Education level attained (national data)
Education Level Attained (national data)Education Level Attained | Percentage of workers in this occupation |
Less than high school diploma | 2.9 |
High school diploma or equivalent | 15.5 |
Some college, no degree | 19.4 |
Associate degree | 13.5 |
Bachelors degree | 32.7 |
Masters degree | 11.4 |
Doctoral (Ph.D) or professional degree | 4.5 |
Work Experience and Training Requirements
Nationally, this career typically requires:
- No related work experience for entry.
- Little or no on-the-job training to become competent.
Current Training Opportunities
Related Programs
Majors
Click on any of the Majors listed below to find out more about preparing for this
career.
Transfer Options
Enrolling in a community college can be a great place to start your four-year degree. While all 31 Minnesota State community colleges,
technical colleges and universities offer all or part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
(a 40-credit package of general education courses accepted for transfer to other state colleges and universities, the University of Minnesota,
and some private colleges and universities), not all two-year colleges offer degrees intended to transfer to a four-year bachelor's degree.
If you plan to transfer to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree, it is important to know which degree path is right for you:
- Associate of Arts (AA) degrees offered at community colleges are designed to transfer into liberal arts four-year majors.
- Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degrees offered at community and technical colleges transfer into specific four-year majors and will likely require completing additional general education courses at a university.
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees offered at technical and community colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
- Diplomas and certificates offered at technical colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
Talk to a transfer specialist as early as possible to determine the best associate degree for your goals. Be sure to review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) each semester to best prepare for transfer. Get more help understanding transfer using the tools below.
Licenses
Licenses are knowledge and skill credentials that are legally required in some careers.
This occupation requires a license.
Commercial Mechanical Control Permit
Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:
- Biology
- Blueprint Reading
- Business Computer Applications
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- Computer-Assisted Art
- Economics
- Physics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Technical Writing
- Trigonometry
In Minnesota, your school may have developed a Program of Study in this career area.
A Program of Study is an academic and career plan developed by your high school to help move you towards a career
and college path. A Program of Study can help you:
- Select high school classes that prepare you for college and getting a job
- Understand how the classes you're taking in high school lead to a career
- Identify extra-curricular activities that are related to your career interest
- See what classes at your school offer early college credit that will save you time and money towards your college expenses
- Graduate from high school prepared for your next step toward the career you choose
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Skills & Knowledge
Most Important Skills for Precision Agriculture Technicians
- Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Mathematics—Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Writing—Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Evaluating a System or Organization—Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Most Important Knowledge Areas for Precision Agriculture Technicians
- Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Geography—Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Food Production—Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
- English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Biology—Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:
- Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative—Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Learn more about your interests. Take the MnCareers Interest Assessment.
Describe Your Skills
This is a new or emerging career specialty. Skill statements are still under development.
Careers that Use Similar Skills
The following careers use skills, knowledge, and abilities that are similar to those used for Precision Agriculture Technicians.
View more careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster
View more careers in the Natural Resources Systems pathway
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
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Jobs
Real-time job data provided by Gartner TalentNeuron
Job Title Examples
Agronomist,
Crop Specialist,
Research Soil Scientist,
Agronomy Consultant,
GPS Field Data Collector (Global Positioning System Field Data Collector),
Nutrient Management Specialist,
Precision Agriculture Department Manager,
Precision Agriculture Specialist,
Precision Agronomist,
Precision Farming Coordinator
Where Do Precision Agriculture Technicians Work?
Precision Agriculture Technicians often work in the following industries.
Similar Careers
Below are careers that use skill sets that are similar to Precision Agriculture Technicians.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.