Agricultural Technicians
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-4012
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 19-4012 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 0.6%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 33/100
- Low friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $49,630
- H-1B offered wage $49,195; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- —
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +4.3%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 32
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 298 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
Explore all pathways→Lower AI-exposure roles that reuse your skills, ranked by a transition score (skills that transfer, safety gain, pay and retraining effort).
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~41% of this role but only ~0.6% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.
Common titles: Agricultural Research Technician (Agricultural Research Tech), Agricultural Research Technologist, Agricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech), Agriculture Assistant, Agronomy Research Technician (Agronomy Research Tech), Field Assistant
Representative Tasks
- •Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- •Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- •Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- •Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
- •Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Cultivate land.
- •Operate farming equipment.
- •Record research or operational data.
- •Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
- •Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.6% | 9.7% |
| Outlook | Average | 37% Bright |
| Median Salary | $49,630 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 99/100 | N/A |