Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians: Career Profile
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.
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What Tasks Do Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians Do?
Typical responsibilities of farm equipment mechanics and service technicians span:
- 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.
- Repair or replace defective parts, using hand tools, milling and woodworking machines, lathes, welding equipment, grinders, or saws.
- Test and replace electrical components and wiring, using test meters, soldering equipment, and hand tools.
What Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians Need to Know
Successful farm equipment mechanics and service technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Agricultural Equipment Mechanic (Ag Equipment Mechanic)
- Agricultural Mechanic (Ag Mechanic)
- Agricultural Service Technician (Ag Service Tech)
- Assembly Repairer
- Combine Mechanic
- Dairy Equipment Installer
- Dairy Equipment Mechanic
- Dairy Equipment Repairer
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 193,580 farm equipment mechanics and service technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +9.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $33,324 |
| Hourly median | $16.02 |
| 10th percentile | $23,582 |
| 25th percentile | $28,453 |
| 75th percentile | $38,196 |
| 90th percentile | $43,067 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $63,990 |
| South Dakota | $62,510 |
| North Dakota | $62,390 |
| Oregon | $62,210 |
| New Jersey | $61,620 |
| Delaware | $61,020 |
| Minnesota | $60,450 |
| Arizona | $60,130 |
| Illinois | $59,650 |
| Washington | $59,150 |
| Wyoming | $58,620 |
| Tennessee | $58,560 |
| Connecticut | $58,390 |
| Idaho | $58,220 |
| Montana | $58,220 |
| Iowa | $58,220 |
| Utah | $57,100 |
| Colorado | $55,900 |
| Louisiana | $54,690 |
| New Hampshire | $54,670 |
| North Carolina | $53,190 |
| New York | $53,050 |
| Vermont | $51,330 |
| Indiana | $51,300 |
| Maryland | $51,120 |
| Nebraska | $51,060 |
| Oklahoma | $50,970 |
| Wisconsin | $50,960 |
| Michigan | $50,920 |
| Maine | $50,910 |
| Missouri | $50,030 |
| Alabama | $49,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,770 |
| California | $49,610 |
| Kansas | $49,450 |
| Kentucky | $49,040 |
| Ohio | $49,030 |
| Georgia | $49,010 |
| Hawaii | $48,710 |
| New Mexico | $48,710 |
| South Carolina | $48,650 |
| Virginia | $48,640 |
| Arkansas | $47,720 |
| Mississippi | $47,470 |
| Texas | $47,430 |
| Florida | $47,330 |
| West Virginia | $35,130 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for farm equipment mechanics and service technicians differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $57,833 | 4.2% | 2.56 |
| Plains States | $55,176 | 26.0% | 4.83 |
| Great Lakes | $53,114 | 19.7% | 1.58 |
| New England | $53,054 | 1.1% | 0.98 |
| Far Western US | $52,875 | 17.2% | 1.11 |
| Middle Atlantic | $52,755 | 5.6% | 0.56 |
| Southeast | $49,960 | 18.4% | 1.22 |
| Southwest | $49,600 | 7.7% | 0.64 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $77,060 | 160 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $76,040 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $75,500 | 180 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $70,320 | 540 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $70,070 | 70 |
| Albany, OR | OR | $68,650 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $67,010 | 180 |
| Bismarck, ND | ND | $64,690 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
Most farm equipment mechanics and service technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale Trade | 27,390 | $55,600 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 3,190 | $45,900 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,620 | $52,460 |
| Retail Trade | 1,460 | $50,610 |
| Manufacturing | 1,430 | $55,780 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 310 | $62,110 |
| Educational Services | 250 | $75,680 |
| Construction | 140 | $49,090 |
Below are examples of industries where farm equipment mechanics and service technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of farm equipment mechanics and service technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level farm equipment mechanics and service technicians positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Supplemental)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Short)
- Rail Car Repairers (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future farm equipment mechanics and service technicians often complete programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
5 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-3041.00 (Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians).
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