Agricultural Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Agricultural Technicians perform tests and experiments, and provide technical support to assist Agricultural Scientists in areas such as research, production, servicing and marketing.
Also known as: Agricultural Technical Officer.
Specialisations: Agriculture Laboratory Technician, Artificial Insemination Technical Officer, Dairy Technician, Field Crop Technical Officer, Herd Tester, Horticultural Technical Officer.
A formal qualification in agricultural science or technology is usually needed to work as an Agricultural Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Tasks
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examining topographical, physical and soil characteristics of farmland to determine its most effective use and identify nutrient deficiencies
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assisting in developing new methods of planting, fertilising, harvesting and processing crops to achieve optimum land usage
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identifying pathogenic micro-organisms and insects, parasites, fungi and weeds harmful to crops and livestock, and assisting in devising methods of control
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analysing produce to set and maintain standards of quality
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inspecting livestock to gauge the effectiveness of feed formulae
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assisting in controlled breeding experiments to develop improved crop and livestock strains
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arranging the supply of drugs, vaccines and other chemicals to Farmers and Farm Managers, and giving advice on their use
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collecting and collating data for research
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planning slaughtering, harvesting and other aspects of production processes
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may advise producers on farming techniques and management
Characteristics
-
University
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
-
Informal or on-the-job
-
Practical
-
Analytical
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Administrative
-
Light
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to decline
- is likely to reach 1,900 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 900 |
2012 | 3,100 |
2013 | 1,300 |
2014 | 2,900 |
2015 | 2,300 |
2016 | 3,800 |
2017 | 1,200 |
2018 | 1,800 |
2019 | 1,900 |
2020 | 2,100 |
2021 | 2,000 |
2026 | 1,900 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 80% of people employed as Agricultural Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median hourly earnings are $47, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Industries
Main industries
-
Agricultural Technicians work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Agricultural Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 23.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 18.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 10.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 6.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.3 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.3 | 1.9 |
-
Around 68% of Agricultural Technicians live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Tasmania and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Riverina
- New England and North West
- Warrnambool and South West
- Western Australia - Wheat Belt
- North West (VIC).
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
-
The median age of Agricultural Technicians is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 37% of the workforce. This is 11 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Agricultural Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 2.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 9.8 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 26.4 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 20.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 20.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 11.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.5 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 40 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A formal qualification in agricultural science or technology is usually needed to work as an Agricultural Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Agricultural Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 9.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 28.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 16.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 19.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 13.8 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 9.3 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Agricultural Technicians who have strong interpersonal skills, are flexible and can provide good customer service.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
50%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
48%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
45%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
-
43%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
43%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
-
43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
43%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
37%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
68%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
67%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
66%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
65%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
64%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
63%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
59%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
58%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
54%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
45%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
43%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
43%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
38%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
38%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
-
36%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
36%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
35%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
35%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
34%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
54%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
54%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
52%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
50%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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46%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
43%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
-
43%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
-
43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
43%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
43%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
-
39%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
75%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
74%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
69%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
68%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
67%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
66%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
65%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
65%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
61%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
61%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
60%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
60%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
58%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
58%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
54%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
53%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
52%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
-
52%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
51%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
48%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
90%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
71%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
33%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
71%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
67%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
48%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
48%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
43%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
38%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
94%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
91%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
87%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
84%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
82%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
82%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
81%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
80%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
79%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
78%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
78%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
77%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
76%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
75%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
74%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
73%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
72%
Indoors, not heat controlledWork indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
71%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
70%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
70%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 19-4011.01 - Agricultural Technicians.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.