{"schemaVersion":"1.0","exportedAt":"2026-05-15T12:37:56.572Z","occupation":{"soc":"45-2091.00","title":"Agricultural Equipment Operators","group":"Farming, Fishing & Forestry","sector":"11","jobZone":2,"jobZoneInferred":false},"framework":{"version":null,"description":"Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities, such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste. May perform tasks, such as crop baling or hay bucking. May operate stationary equipment to perform post-harvest tasks, such as husking, shelling, threshing, and ginning.","contextCovered":"Row-crop and specialty farms, dairies, hay operations; tractors, combines, sprayers, balers, GPS-guided implements; maintenance, safety, and seasonal pacing.","levels":{"emerging":{"label":"Emerging","statements":["Routine tractors and small implements — operate safely under a senior operator's direction on a working farm.","Daily pre-shift inspections (fluids, tires, lights, hitches) — complete per the operation's checklist.","Hitching and unhitching of common implements — perform without supervisor prompting on routine equipment.","Personal protective equipment (rollover protection, hearing, respirators) — apply consistently.","Field maps and assignment sheets — read and follow on a defined parcel.","Refueling and basic lubrication — perform per the manufacturer's intervals.","Daily logs and acreage tallies — record accurately for the manager.","Routine PTO operation and safety — follow without exception.","Equipment storage and weather protection — execute per the operation's standards.","Two-way-radio communications with the boss and crew — use clearly during operations."]},"developing":{"label":"Developing","statements":["Tillage, planting, and harvest operations — execute independently on routine row crops or hay.","GPS guidance and autosteer systems — set up and operate on tractors and combines.","Sprayer calibration and field application — perform under a licensed applicator's plan.","Combine settings (concave, fan, sieve) — adjust for crop and field conditions with light supervision.","Routine equipment troubleshooting (sensors, belts, drives) — perform with documented checklists.","Hay baling and stacking — operate balers, accumulators, and stackers across a season.","Field-edge and headland management — execute with appropriate set-out and turning patterns.","Crew coordination during peak operations — communicate with grain-cart and truck drivers.","Implement changeovers and tool-bar adjustments — perform efficiently between fields.","Junior operators and seasonal hires — train on safety, basic operation, and machine care."]},"proficient":{"label":"Proficient","statements":["Complex implements (variable-rate planters, prescription sprayers, robotic milkers) — operate at production scale.","Variable-rate prescriptions from agronomy software — load, execute, and verify on planters and sprayers.","Major repairs (hydraulics, drivetrain, electronics) — diagnose with technical-service support.","Equipment fleets across a season — schedule, coordinate, and maintain at field-operation level.","Custom-operator and contract work — manage with billing, scheduling, and quality documentation.","Equipment safety and youth-operator programs — own per OSHA and ag-safety standards.","Continuous-improvement projects (fuel use, downtime, fertilizer placement) — lead with measurable outcomes.","Vendor and dealer relationships — manage for service, parts, and warranty.","Operator teams across multiple fields or farms — supervise during planting and harvest.","Capital-equipment evaluations — recommend on purchase and trade-in cycles."]},"advanced":{"label":"Advanced","statements":["Equipment strategy for a farm or custom-operation business — set across fleet, technology, and labor.","Major capital decisions (new combines, sprayers, autonomous platforms) — author and defend with the owner.","Precision-ag programs and data systems — integrate with agronomy, accounting, and traceability.","Workforce development and operator certification — own with measurable retention.","Industry standards (ASABE, equipment-manufacturer training) — contribute through committees.","Crisis response (weather, breakdowns, fire) — lead at the operation level with vendor and crew coordination.","Cross-farm operator pools and equipment-sharing arrangements — design and steward.","Capital and operating budgets — own with executive sponsorship at the farm or company level.","Talent pipelines from technical colleges and apprenticeships — build with measurable outcomes.","Legacy mentorship of operators — institutionalize through training and certification."]}}},"sources":{"onet":"v30.2 (CC BY 4.0)","crosswalk":"https://skillscrosswalk.com","generator":"LER.me"},"attribution":"© EBSCOed"}