Also called: Ag Equipment Technician, Tractor Mechanic
Repairs and maintains tractors, combines, sprayers, and irrigation systems, which are now as much computer as machine.
Half your day is plugging a laptop into a $700,000 combine to read error codes, the other half is turning wrenches on hydraulics and engines. During harvest you get calls from farmers whose machines just died in the field, and you drive out to fix them on the spot.
Experienced techs at dealerships often earn overtime during harvest.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Diesel or ag equipment tech program at a community college, often sponsored by John Deere, Case IH, or AGCO dealers.
Ways in: 2-year college, Trade school, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Agricultural Equipment Technology (trade school), Diesel Technology (trade school).
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Dealers report shortages of qualified techs.
Low risk for 10 years. AI diagnostics read fault codes faster; hands-on repair of tractors and combines in the shop and field stays human.
Classes: Ag mechanics or welding CTE, Small engines class, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 49-3041.
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.