Occupation salary profile

Agricultural Technicians

SOC 19-4012 BLS OEWS May 2025 H-1B LCAs, last 12 months

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

National median · BLS
$49,630
▲ +6.07% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
$48,615
▼ -2.77% YoY · 26 LCAs
Average salary · BLS
$53,840
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
15,130
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Agricultural Technicians

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation; H-1B covers 26 certified Labor Condition Applications filed by sponsoring employers in the last 12 months.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS) H-1B sponsored
10th — entry pay$35,980$38,272
25th$40,950$40,192
Median (50th)$49,630$48,615
75th$63,630$55,000
90th — top pay$76,480$57,872
H-1B sponsors pay a median of $48,615 for Agricultural Technicians — 2% below the BLS national median of $49,630.

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Agricultural Technicians

BLS projects employment of agricultural technicians to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
19,500 → 20,600
+1,100 jobs
Projected change
+5.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need an associate's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

H-1B sponsored pay

Pay by H-1B wage level

Employers assign every H-1B filing a Department of Labor prevailing-wage level, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). Pay rises steeply with level.

H-1B median $48,615
Change vs prior year -2.77%
After inflation (CPI-U) -5.72%
Wage level LCAs Share P25 Median P75
Level I 13 50% $39,250 $40,768 $45,760
Skills & tools

Skills needed for Agricultural Technicians

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Reading Comprehension3.4
  • Active Listening3.3
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Active Learning3.1
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Writing3.1
  • Coordination3.0
  • Instructing3.0
  • Operations Monitoring3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Food Production3.6
  • Biology3.5
  • Chemistry3.4
  • Mechanical3.4
  • Mathematics3.1
  • Administration and Management3.0
  • English Language3.0
  • Education and Training2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSAP softwareEmail softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareStatistical softwareWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What agricultural technicians do

  • Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
  • Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
  • Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
  • Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
  • Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
  • Collect animal or crop samples.
  • Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.
  • Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.
Also called
Agricultural Research Technician (Agricultural Research Tech)Agricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech)Agriculture AssistantSeed AnalystAgricultural Research TechnologistAgronomy Research Technician (Agronomy Research Tech)Field AssistantInsect Research Technician (Insect Research Tech)Lab Tech (Laboratory Technician)
Specialties within this occupation
  • Precision Agriculture Technicians
More job titles for this occupation (66)
Acidity TesterAgricultural AssistantAgricultural Equipment TechnicianAgricultural Service TechnicianAgricultural SpecialistAgriculture Field Technician (Agriculture Field Tech)Agriculture Research Lab Assistant (Agriculture Research Laboratory Assistant)Agriculture SpecialistAgriculture Technician (Agriculture Tech)Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist)AgronomistAgronomy ConsultantAgronomy SpecialistAgronomy Technician (Agronomy Tech)Artificial Breeding Technician (Artificial Breeding Tech)Biological AideBiotechnicianBlood TesterCattle TesterCertified Crop SpecialistChemical ApplicatorCotton Program Technician (Cotton Program Tech)County Extension AgentCow TesterCrop ConsultantCrop SpecialistCulture Media Laboratory Assistant (Culture Media Lab Assistant)Dairy Laboratory Technician (Dairy Lab Tech)Dairy Technician (Dairy Tech)Dairy TechnologistExtension AssociateExtension Precision Agriculture SpecialistFeed Mill Laboratory Technician (Feed Mill Lab Tech)Feed Research AideFertilizer ApplicatorField AgronomistField Sales AgronomistField Service Poultry Technician (Field Service Poultry Tech)Fowl Blood TesterGPS Field Data Collector (Global Positioning System Field Data Collector)Horticultural Technician (Horticultural Tech)Horticulture Technician (Horticulture Tech)Insect Control AideMigration SpecialistMoisture TesterPermaculture ContractorPlant Control AidePrecision 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)Seed Analysis Lab Assistant (Seed Analysis Laboratory Assistant)Seed ExpertSeed Lab Assistant (Seed Laboratory Assistant)Seed Lab Tech (Seed Laboratory Technician)Seed SpecialistSeed Technician (Seed Tech)Seed TesterSugarcane Research Technician (Sugarcane Research Tech)Sustainable Agriculture Specialist (Sustainable Ag Specialist)Technical AgronomistUrban Gardening SpecialistWeed Science Research Technician (Weed Science Research Tech)

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.