Agricultural Equipment Operators

SOC Code: 45-2091

Agricultural Equipment Operatorss load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers. This career typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training (months to 1 year). With an AI-proof score of 93.6/100, this role has high resilience to automation. Key skills include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control.

AI-Proof Score: 93.6 — Very High
💰

Median Salary

$42,580

📈

Job Growth

7.7%

⏱️

Training Time

Moderate-term on-the-job training (months to 1 year)

🎓

Job Zone

Zone 2 / 5

💵

Training Cost

~$5,000

Key Skills

  • •Operation and Control
  • •Operations Monitoring
  • •Troubleshooting
  • •Active Listening
  • •Equipment Maintenance
  • •Repairing

Common Tasks

  • ✓Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
  • ✓Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
  • ✓Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
  • ✓Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
  • ✓Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.

Why AI-Proof?

  • ✅Requires hands-on physical presence and dexterity
  • ✅Demands human empathy, judgment, and trust
  • ✅Operates in unpredictable, variable environments
  • ✅Social and regulatory barriers to full automation