O*NET Role Library

1016 occupations available

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Agricultural Equipment Operators

45-2091.00·Farming, Fishing, and Forestry·Job Zone 1

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.

17Tasks
6Tech Skills
3Technical Tools

Technology Skills

6 technologies · 3 technical tools

Technical Tools

Microsoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPoint

Other Technologies

Farm Management Software Hay and Crop ManagerMartens Farms Farm Site MateMartens Farms Farm Trac

Task Statements

8 core · 9 supplemental

Core Tasks

  • Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
  • Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
  • Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
  • Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
  • Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
  • Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
  • Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
  • Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.

Supplemental Tasks

  • Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
  • Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
  • Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops.
  • Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information.
  • Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals.
  • Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers.
  • Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products.
  • Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers.
  • Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.

Top Skills

Ranked by importance score

Operation and Control
3.9
Operations Monitoring
3.8
English Language
3.4
Troubleshooting
3.1
Repairing
3.0
Equipment Maintenance
3.0
Quality Control Analysis
3.0
Active Listening
3.0
Critical Thinking
2.9
Social Perceptiveness
2.9
Mechanical
2.9
Public Safety and Security
2.8
Mathematics
2.8
Coordination
2.8
Monitoring
2.8
Speaking
2.8
Transportation
2.7
Production and Processing
2.7
Customer and Personal Service
2.6
Chemistry
2.6

Top Abilities

Ranked by importance score

Control Precision
3.9
Multilimb Coordination
3.9
Near Vision
3.6
Problem Sensitivity
3.4
Depth Perception
3.4
Far Vision
3.4
Rate Control
3.3
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3.3
Response Orientation
3.3
Reaction Time
3.3
Oral Comprehension
3.3
Static Strength
3.1
Oral Expression
3.1
Manual Dexterity
3.1
Speech Clarity
3.1
Trunk Strength
3.1
Hearing Sensitivity
3.1
Finger Dexterity
3.0
Information Ordering
3.0
Deductive Reasoning
3.0

Work Activities

Ranked by importance score

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
4.4
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
4.3
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
4.2
Controlling Machines and Processes
4.2
Handling and Moving Objects
4.2
Processing Information
4.1
Performing General Physical Activities
4.0
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
3.9
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
3.8
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
3.7
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
3.6
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
3.6
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
3.5
Developing and Building Teams
3.5
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
3.5
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
3.5
Assisting and Caring for Others
3.4
Getting Information
3.4
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
3.3
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
3.2

Education, Training & Experience

Percentage of respondents reporting each level

Required Level of Education

Less than a High School Diploma
57%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
19%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
14%
Some College Courses
10%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0%

Related Work Experience

None
20%
Up to and including 1 month
8%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
18%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
2%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
13%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
19%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
0%
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
19%
Over 10 years
1%

On-Site or In-Plant Training

None
3%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
40%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
17%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
0%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
10%

On-the-Job Training

None or short demonstration
2%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
10%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
9%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
13%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
1%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
9%