Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.
Also called: Agricultural Mechanic (Ag Mechanic) · Agricultural Service Technician (Ag Service Tech) · Dairy Service Technician (Dairy Service Tech) · Farm Equipment Mechanic · Farm Equipment Service Technician (Farm Equipment Service Tech) · Field Mechanic
Median pay (national)
$52,080
$36,920–$76,860 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
36,880
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+11%
~3,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for farm equipment mechanics and service technicians shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $76,860 versus $36,920 at the bottom 10% — 2.1x. The median of $52,080 leaves roughly 48% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +11% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 3,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, Nevada pays the most for this role (median $63,990, +23% vs the national median), while West Virginia sits lowest at $35,130 — a 82% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Tune or overhaul engines.
- Drive trucks to haul tools and equipment for on-site repair of large machinery.
- Test and replace electrical components and wiring, using test meters, soldering equipment, and hand tools.
- 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.
- Clean and lubricate parts.
- Repair bent or torn sheet metal.
Tools & technology
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- FarmLogic FarmPAD
- ServiceMax
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing