Farming & Forestry · SOC 45-2091
Operating heavy agricultural machinery in variable field conditions is a predominantly physical and perceptual task AI cannot yet replace.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Autonomous tractor technology is advancing but still requires human oversight for complex field conditions and equipment issues; widespread deployment is 7-12 years out for most farming contexts.
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$35,690 median pay
$43,680 median pay
$53,900 median pay
$52,000 median pay
$36,150 median pay
Farming & Forestry
AI job-risk card
Agricultural Equipment Operators is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Agricultural Equipment Operators is 16/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
16 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Weighing crop containers and recording data. Harder to automate: Loading and unloading crops with forklifts and augers, Mixing chemicals and loading planter machinery, Listening for equipment malfunctions and responding, Manipulating machine controls in real-time field conditions.
Lean into Agricultural equipment operation, Precision farming technology, Mechanical troubleshooting, Safety procedures. Consider roles such as Farm equipment technician or Precision agriculture technician or Agricultural operations supervisor.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.