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Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.
Other titles employers use
Agricultural Mechanic (Ag Mechanic) · Agricultural Service Technician (Ag Service Tech) · Dairy Service Technician (Dairy Service Tech) · Farm Equipment Mechanic · Farm Equipment Service Technician (Farm Equipment Service Tech) · Field Mechanic · Field Technician (Field Tech) · Mechanic
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Reassemble machines and equipment following repair, testing operation and making adjustments, as necessary.
- Maintain, repair, and overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems.
- Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.
- Record details of repairs made and parts used.
- Dismantle defective machines for repair, using hand tools.
- Clean and lubricate parts.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
Subjects to know
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
Useful strengths
- Manual Dexterity
- Finger Dexterity
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.4 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.7 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 53%
- High school or less 44%
- A two-year degree 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Facilities management software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 6,500
- Job openings each year
- 570
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 8.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,500 | 570 | 8.3% |
| Iowa | 4,000 | 350 | 8.4% |
| Texas | 3,450 | 320 | 17.7% |
| Nebraska | 2,280 | 200 | 12.3% |
| Minnesota | 2,120 | 190 | 14.0% |
| Illinois | 1,980 | 170 | 9.4% |
| Wisconsin | 1,950 | 180 | 23.4% |
| Georgia | 1,940 | 180 | 26.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,870 | 160 | 10.7% |
| Florida | 1,850 | 160 | 12.8% |
| Kansas | 1,840 | 160 | 9.5% |
| Indiana | 1,710 | 150 | 8.2% |
| Oregon | 1,660 | 150 | 19.4% |
| Washington | 1,570 | 150 | 6.1% |
| South Dakota | 1,550 | 140 | 21.1% |
| Idaho | 1,500 | 140 | 26.1% |
| Missouri | 1,490 | 130 | 4.9% |
| Ohio | 1,370 | 120 | 7.0% |
| Arkansas | 1,300 | 120 | 15.0% |
| Michigan | 1,240 | 110 | 9.7% |
| North Carolina | 1,210 | 110 | 14.2% |
| Virginia | 1,060 | 90 | 15.2% |
| Alabama | 990 | 90 | 15.1% |
| North Dakota | 980 | 90 | 16.7% |
| Tennessee | 970 | 90 | 31.1% |
| New York | 830 | 0 | 1.2% |
| Arizona | 800 | 70 | 12.7% |
| Oklahoma | 800 | 70 | 12.7% |
| Mississippi | 720 | 60 | 14.3% |
| Kentucky | 700 | 60 | 9.4% |
| Colorado | 490 | 50 | 16.7% |
| Montana | 440 | 40 | 18.9% |
| Maryland | 400 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Utah | 370 | 40 | 32.1% |
| South Carolina | 360 | 30 | 16.1% |
| New Mexico | 260 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Delaware | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| New Jersey | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Nevada | 210 | 20 | 75.0% |
| Louisiana | 190 | 20 | 18.8% |
| New Hampshire | 190 | 20 | 18.8% |
| Maine | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Massachusetts | 170 | 20 | 21.4% |
| Wyoming | 130 | 10 | 30.0% |
| Vermont | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Connecticut | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| West Virginia | 60 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Iowa State University
- Degrees each year
- 45
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college CACalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Degrees each year
- 31
- Admit rate
- 30%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college NCNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Degrees each year
- 27
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college MOUniversity of Missouri-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 20
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college SDSouth Dakota State University
- Degrees each year
- 17
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college TXSam Houston State University
- Degrees each year
- 17
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college INPurdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 17
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open college KSKansas State University
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 79%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college