Land-based machinery technician
Also known as: landbased machinery technician, land-based machinery mechanic, land-based machinery technicians
About this occupation
Land-based machinery technicians maintain, overhaul and repair agricultural equipment and machinery.
Essential skills and knowledge
- inspect machinery
- principles of mechanical engineering
- hydraulics
- assemble machines
- manoeuvre heavy trucks
- apply health and safety standards
- diagnose fuel systems
- drive agricultural machines
- health and safety regulations
- mechanical tools
- repair equipment on site
- maintain agricultural machinery
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Precision Agriculture Technicians (O*NET 19-4012.01). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- 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.
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Learning
US median pay: US$49,630 a year (2025), 15,130 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (4.1)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.5)
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyImportant (3.4)
- Agriculture or Foods and NutritionO*NET: Food ProductionImportant (3.4)
- Environmental ScienceO*NET: Biology + GeographyImportant (3.3)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.3)
- GeographyO*NET: GeographyImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Agricultural Engineers
- Agricultural Technicians
- Conservation Scientists
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
- Industrial Ecologists
- Forest and Conservation Technicians
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Range Managers
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.