SOC 19-4012.01Bright outlook

    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.

    Median pay
    $49,630
    Growth
    +5.4%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    2,800
    Typical education
    Associate's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Agricultural technicians"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $35,980
    Median
    $49,630
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $76,480
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    15,130 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Precision agriculture technicians use geospatial technologies like GPS and GIS to improve farming and crop management. Belonging to the agricultural technicians group, they earn a median annual salary of $49,630.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What precision agriculture technicians do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    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.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Precision agriculture technicians apply technology to modern farming. They gather information and analyze data using computers to create yield maps, schedule variable-rate irrigation, and plan site-specific pesticide applications. By comparing remote sensing images and digital maps with real-world data on soil, weather, pests, and fertilizer, they help farmers make informed decisions.

    This role is highly realistic, requiring hands-on work with vehicles, mechanized devices, and specialized equipment. Technicians need strong skills in critical thinking, reading comprehension, mathematics, and complex problem solving. They must communicate clearly with supervisors, colleagues, and external clients to interpret technical data.

    Success in this field requires a solid foundation in food production, biology, geography, and computers. Technicians must show great attention to detail, dependability, and intellectual curiosity. They constantly update their knowledge to solve agricultural problems and improve crop yields.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires an associate's degree, which aligns with the medium preparation level of vocational training or related practical experience. Students preparing for this field often pursue college majors in general agriculture, plant sciences, soil sciences, general biology, animal sciences, or agriculture and veterinary preparatory programs.

    While specific professional licenses are not listed as mandatory, gaining hands-on experience with geospatial software and farming equipment is highly beneficial. Building a strong background in agricultural technology and data analysis during college helps candidates stand out to employers.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for precision agriculture technicians is $49,630. This figure is based on the broader occupational group of agricultural technicians. Within this group, the lowest 10% of earners make less than $35,980, while the highest 10% earn more than $76,480.

    There are 15,130 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.4%, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in approximately 2,800 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    91 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    73 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    4 / 100
    Social (S)
    6 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    18 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    66 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    86
    Getting Information
    83
    Analyzing Data or Information
    77
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    76
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    76
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    74
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    73
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    72
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    71
    Documenting/Recording Information
    70
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Active Learning
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Mathematics
    • Monitoring

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Sales and Marketing
    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Biology
    • Food Production
    • Mechanical
    • Geography

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Near Vision
    • Information Ordering
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Innovation
    • Dependability
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Cautiousness
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Initiative

    Also called

    Agriculture Specialist · Agriculture Technician (Agriculture Tech) · Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist) · Agronomist · Agronomy Consultant · Agronomy Specialist · Certified Crop Specialist · Crop Consultant · Crop Specialist · Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to precision agriculture technicians

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Precision Agriculture Technicians$49,630 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Carlow University logo
      Carlow University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $42,599
      4 yrs after
      $134,677
      Median debt
      $26,774
    2. 2Providence College logo
      Providence College

      Providence, RI · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $46,526
      4 yrs after
      $93,757
      Median debt
      $27,000
    3. 3Seton Hall University-New Jersey logo
      Seton Hall University-New Jersey

      South Orange, NJ · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $37,643
      4 yrs after
      $93,200
      Median debt
      $22,375
    4. 4College of the Holy Cross logo
      College of the Holy Cross

      Worcester, MA · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $46,673
      4 yrs after
      $92,914
      Median debt
      $19,375
    5. 5University of Detroit Mercy logo
      University of Detroit Mercy

      Detroit, MI · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $28,438
      4 yrs after
      $91,888
      Median debt
      $18,642
    6. 6Yeshiva University logo
      Yeshiva University

      New York, NY · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $20,819
      4 yrs after
      $90,456
      Median debt
      $16,392
    7. 7
      Ohio Dominican University

      Columbus, OH · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $90,431
      Median debt
      $25,309
    8. 8
      Marquette University

      Milwaukee, WI · Biology, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $40,479
      4 yrs after
      $88,921
      Median debt
      $24,109

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What precision agriculture technicians may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Agriculture, General
    • Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs, Other
    • Agronomy and Crop Science
    • Animal Sciences, General
    • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
    • Dairy Science
    • Plant Sciences, General
    • Poultry Science
    • Soil Science and Agronomy, General

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about precision agriculture technicians

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are known by several names. They are often called crop consultants, agronomy specialists, agriculture specialists, or extension precision agriculture specialists.

    What kind of technology do these technicians use?

    These professionals work with geographic information systems and global positioning systems. They use these tools alongside computers to study satellite images, map out crop yields, and manage watering systems.

    What college majors are most relevant for this job?

    Students can prepare for this career by majoring in plant sciences, soil sciences, or general agriculture. Other suitable majors include general biology and animal sciences.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.