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Precision Agriculture Technicians

SOC 19-4012.01Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers precision agriculture technicians working in field data collection, GIS-based soil and yield mapping, sensor and GPS system management, and site-specific crop management planning within farm services, agribusiness, and agricultural consulting environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. 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.
  2. Precision agriculture records and documentation — maintain and organize under technician guidance using spreadsheet and office suite software in a farm or agribusiness setting.
  3. GPS-based vehicle guidance systems and sensors — assist with installation and basic setup following written protocols on farm equipment under supervisor oversight.
  4. Soil sampling grids — support development by following pre-established geospatial templates to identify testing sites for nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH content.
  5. Georeferenced field zones — recognize and label on existing maps based on provided soil characteristic data under the direction of a senior technician.
  6. Map creation software and GIS platforms — perform entry-level data entry and layer loading tasks with direct instruction in a precision agriculture office environment.
  7. Crop yield and soil test datasets — review and describe basic patterns with guidance, using analytical software provided by the employer.
  8. Technical manuals and agronomic reports — read and summarize key information under supervision to support daily data collection and field preparation tasks.
  9. Sensor calibration procedures — follow step-by-step written checklists to verify basic equipment function on field machinery at the start of a crop season.
  10. Mobile location-based services software — use to navigate to assigned sampling sites and log field observations under direct technician supervision.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Soil sampling grids and georeferenced zones — develop independently using geospatial technology to identify testing sites for nutrient content and pH across familiar field conditions.
  2. Precision agriculture data records — maintain accurately and update routinely in database and spreadsheet software with minimal oversight across multiple farm accounts.
  3. Agricultural field boundaries and zone maps — create and refine in GIS software by integrating soil characteristics and production potential data for standard field configurations.
  4. GPS guidance systems, sensors, and mechanical controls — install, calibrate, and troubleshoot following established protocols with reduced supervision on commercial farm equipment.
  5. 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.
  6. Geospatial datasets including terrain, drainage, and input application records — layer and interpret in GIS to draw agronomic conclusions in routine field scenarios.
  7. Written field reports and management summaries — compose clearly using office suite and word processing software to communicate findings to farm operators and agronomists.
  8. Equipment calibration logs and maintenance schedules — manage proactively to ensure sensor accuracy and system reliability across a seasonal field operations cycle.
  9. Mathematics and basic statistical methods — apply to interpret soil nutrient levels, yield variability, and fertilizer rate calculations in support of prescription map development.
  10. Client field information and service requests — coordinate and prioritize using time management practices to meet scheduled sampling and data delivery deadlines.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex geospatial datasets including yield, soil quality, weather, and field history — analyze autonomously to determine agricultural implications and develop site-specific crop management plans.
  2. 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.
  3. Crop yield maps cross-referenced with soil test, fertilizer, and drainage data — compare systematically to produce variable-rate application prescriptions and management zone recommendations.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Technical findings and agronomic recommendations — communicate clearly and persuasively in written reports and oral presentations tailored to farm managers, agronomists, and agricultural consultants.
  9. Emerging geospatial and sensor technologies — evaluate for practical applicability and integrate into existing field data collection and analysis workflows on active commercial operations.
  10. Quality control reviews of field data collection, map accuracy, and record completeness — conduct systematically to ensure deliverable integrity across all assigned farm accounts.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Enterprise-wide geospatial data management systems — evaluate, select, and configure to optimize workflow efficiency, data integrity, and analytical capability across large agribusiness operations.
  4. Strategic crop management frameworks integrating soil quality, productivity mapping, input economics, and weather modeling — lead development and continuous refinement for client portfolios.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Complex, non-routine agronomic and geospatial problems affecting multiple farms or commodities — resolve by applying advanced systems analysis, judgment, and decision-making leadership.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Agriculture Specialist · Agriculture Technician (Agriculture Tech) · Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist) · Agronomist · Agronomy Consultant · Agronomy Specialist · Certified Crop Specialist · Crop Consultant · Crop Specialist · Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist · Field Agronomist · Field Sales Agronomist
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMathematicsMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationLearning StrategiesCoordinationTime Management
Knowledge domains
Customer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsSales and MarketingEnglish LanguageMathematicsEngineering and TechnologyBiologyFood ProductionMechanicalGeographyEducation and TrainingChemistryProduction and Processing
Abilities
Inductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionNear VisionInformation OrderingProblem SensitivityFluency of Ideas
Work styles
Attention to DetailInnovationDependabilityIntellectual CuriosityCautiousnessAchievement Orientation
Technology
Data base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareGeographic information systemMap creation softwareMobile location based services softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareOperating system software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
  2. Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
  3. 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.
  4. Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
  5. Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
  6. Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
  7. Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
  8. Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.
CIP education codes
01.000001.090101.090501.090701.110101.110201.120101.139926.0101

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.