Also called: Ag Science Technician, Research Farm Technician
Helps scientists run experiments, planting test plots, collecting samples, and recording data.
You plant thousands of small research plots with a special mini planter, then spend the summer measuring plant height, counting flowers, and bagging samples. Rainy days are spent in the lab grinding leaves and entering data.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate or bachelor's in an ag or biological science.
Ways in: 2-year college, 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Agricultural Science, Biology, Plant Science.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Agricultural and food science technicians.
Medium risk for 10 years. Robots and sensors automate plot measurements and data entry; planting, sampling and lab handling keep technicians, but fewer.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.