Occupation · SOC 19-4012.01
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. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
987 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMathematics
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsSales and MarketingEnglish LanguageMathematics
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareGeographic information systemMap creation softwareMobile location based services software
Representative tasks
Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated.Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems.Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Field data recorders and basic GIS software — operate under direct supervision to collect soil attributes, yield data, and field boundary information on assigned agricultural sites.Precision agriculture records and documentation — maintain and organize under technician guidance using spreadsheet and office suite software in a farm or agribusiness setting.GPS-based vehicle guidance systems and sensors — assist with installation and basic setup following written protocols on farm equipment under supervisor oversight.Soil sampling grids — support development by following pre-established geospatial templates to identify testing sites for nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH content.Georeferenced field zones — recognize and label on existing maps based on provided soil characteristic data under the direction of a senior technician.Map creation software and GIS platforms — perform entry-level data entry and layer loading tasks with direct instruction in a precision agriculture office environment.Crop yield and soil test datasets — review and describe basic patterns with guidance, using analytical software provided by the employer.Technical manuals and agronomic reports — read and summarize key information under supervision to support daily data collection and field preparation tasks.Sensor calibration procedures — follow step-by-step written checklists to verify basic equipment function on field machinery at the start of a crop season.Mobile location-based services software — use to navigate to assigned sampling sites and log field observations under direct technician supervision.
developing
Soil sampling grids and georeferenced zones — develop independently using geospatial technology to identify testing sites for nutrient content and pH across familiar field conditions.Precision agriculture data records — maintain accurately and update routinely in database and spreadsheet software with minimal oversight across multiple farm accounts.Agricultural field boundaries and zone maps — create and refine in GIS software by integrating soil characteristics and production potential data for standard field configurations.GPS guidance systems, sensors, and mechanical controls — install, calibrate, and troubleshoot following established protocols with reduced supervision on commercial farm equipment.Crop yield maps and soil test data layers — compare and analyze using map creation software to identify spatial patterns and support preliminary site-specific management recommendations.Geospatial datasets including terrain, drainage, and input application records — layer and interpret in GIS to draw agronomic conclusions in routine field scenarios.Written field reports and management summaries — compose clearly using office suite and word processing software to communicate findings to farm operators and agronomists.Equipment calibration logs and maintenance schedules — manage proactively to ensure sensor accuracy and system reliability across a seasonal field operations cycle.Mathematics and basic statistical methods — apply to interpret soil nutrient levels, yield variability, and fertilizer rate calculations in support of prescription map development.Client field information and service requests — coordinate and prioritize using time management practices to meet scheduled sampling and data delivery deadlines.
proficient
Complex geospatial datasets including yield, soil quality, weather, and field history — analyze autonomously to determine agricultural implications and develop site-specific crop management plans.Multi-layer precision agriculture maps covering crop yields, chemical applications, and terrain — create, interpret, and present to farm operators using advanced GIS and map creation software.Crop yield maps cross-referenced with soil test, fertilizer, and drainage data — compare systematically to produce variable-rate application prescriptions and management zone recommendations.Full-season calibration and maintenance programs for GPS guidance, sensors, and automated controls — design and execute independently to sustain data accuracy across diverse equipment fleets.Soil sampling strategies for non-routine field conditions such as irregular terrain or mixed soil series — develop using inductive and deductive reasoning to optimize sampling density and site selection.Precision agriculture information systems including databases, GIS platforms, and analytical software — integrate across tools to support seamless data flow from field collection through agronomic reporting.Site-specific nutrient management and production efficiency challenges — solve using critical thinking and systems analysis across the full scope of field, crop, and environmental variables.Technical findings and agronomic recommendations — communicate clearly and persuasively in written reports and oral presentations tailored to farm managers, agronomists, and agricultural consultants.Emerging geospatial and sensor technologies — evaluate for practical applicability and integrate into existing field data collection and analysis workflows on active commercial operations.Quality control reviews of field data collection, map accuracy, and record completeness — conduct systematically to ensure deliverable integrity across all assigned farm accounts.
advanced
Precision agriculture service programs and technical standards — design and implement at organizational scale, setting protocols for data collection, analysis, and reporting across multiple technician teams.Junior and mid-level precision agriculture technicians — mentor and develop through structured on-the-job coaching, learning strategy instruction, and performance feedback in field and office settings.Enterprise-wide geospatial data management systems — evaluate, select, and configure to optimize workflow efficiency, data integrity, and analytical capability across large agribusiness operations.Strategic crop management frameworks integrating soil quality, productivity mapping, input economics, and weather modeling — lead development and continuous refinement for client portfolios.Cross-functional teams including agronomists, farm operators, equipment dealers, and technology vendors — coordinate and align to deliver integrated precision agriculture solutions at regional or national scale.Organizational best practices for GIS, sensor technology, and variable-rate application systems — establish and update based on emerging research, technology advances, and field performance data.Complex, non-routine agronomic and geospatial problems affecting multiple farms or commodities — resolve by applying advanced systems analysis, judgment, and decision-making leadership.Precision agriculture business proposals, technical presentations, and stakeholder reports — author and deliver at executive and client leadership levels to drive adoption of data-driven farm management.Quality assurance and continuous improvement programs for all precision agriculture data products — lead across the organization, defining accuracy standards, audit procedures, and corrective action processes.Industry knowledge and professional networks in precision agriculture, geospatial science, and agronomy — cultivate and leverage to position the organization at the forefront of technological innovation and service excellence.
Also known as
42 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Agriculture SpecialistAgriculture Technician (Agriculture Tech)Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist)AgronomistAgronomy ConsultantAgronomy SpecialistCertified Crop SpecialistCrop ConsultantCrop SpecialistEngineering (Air Force 3E5X1)Engineering Aide (Navy 001160)Engineering Apprentice (Air Force 3E531)Engineering Craftsman (Air Force 3E571)Engineering Helper (Air Force 3E511)Engineering Journeyman (Air Force 3E551)Engineering Superintendent (Air Force 3E591)Extension Precision Agriculture SpecialistField AgronomistField Sales AgronomistGPS Field Data Collector (Global Positioning System Field Data Collector)Geospatial Engineer (Army 12Y)Geospatial Engineering Technician (Army 125D)Geospatial Information and Services (GIandS) Officer (Navy 2310)Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst (Army 35G)Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Technician (Army 350G)Migration SpecialistPrecision Agriculture Analyst (Precision Ag Analyst)Precision Agriculture Specialist (Precision Ag Specialist)Precision Agriculture Technician (Precision Ag Tech)Precision AgronomistPrecision Farming CoordinatorPrecision Farming SpecialistPrecision Technology Agronomist (Precision Tech Agronomist)Space Systems Operations (Air Force 1C6X1)Space Systems Operations Apprentice (Air Force 1C631)Space Systems Operations Craftsman (Air Force 1C671)Space Systems Operations Helper (Air Force 1C611)Space Systems Operations Journeyman (Air Force 1C651)Space Systems Operations Manager (Air Force 1C600)Space Systems Operations Superintendent (Air Force 1C691)