Occupation · 2026 assessment

Agricultural Machinery Operator

The Agricultural Machinery Operator role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Low risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

40%2026
45%2028
51%2030
58%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Executing operations through a standard workflow59%
Recognizing and classifying incoming data50%
Escalating non-standard cases to a responsible specialist29%
Monitoring sensors, fields and crop condition44%
Calculating irrigation, nutrition and treatment49%
Sorting produce by visual characteristics47%
Operating machinery on a standard route57%
Diagnosing problems directly in the field36%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Executing operations through a standard workflowAI 59% · human 58%
  2. 2Recognizing and classifying incoming dataAI 50% · human 67%
  3. 3Escalating non-standard cases to a responsible specialistAI 29% · human 67%
  4. 4Monitoring sensors, fields and crop conditionAI 44% · human 67%
  5. 5Calculating irrigation, nutrition and treatmentAI 49% · human 67%
  6. 6Sorting produce by visual characteristicsAI 47% · human 65%
  7. 7Operating machinery on a standard routeAI 57% · human 54%
  8. 8Diagnosing problems directly in the fieldAI 36% · human 74%

Why technology can change this work

  • systems can run standard modes autonomously and escalate only exceptions
  • drones and satellites automate field monitoring
  • autonomous machinery takes repetitive operations
  • AI forecasts yield, disease and resource needs

What protects the occupation

  • recognizing dangerous situations and safely taking manual control
  • living systems and weather uncertainty
  • on-farm repair and decision making
  • biological and economic accountability

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$4 050per month
2035$5 450scenario estimate
2026: $4 05020262027: $4 20020272028: $4 35020282029: $4 50020292030: $4 65020302031: $4 80020312032: $4 95020322033: $5 10020332034: $5 30020342035: $5 4502035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Renewable Energy Forecasting Analyst

Skill fit 60% · risk 17%

Search jobs ↗

Skills you already have

  • process monitoring
  • emergency-procedure execution
  • crop or livestock knowledge
  • farm-condition assessment
  • machinery operation
  • seasonal planning

Skills to build

  • autonomous-system supervision
  • log and telemetry analysis
  • precision agriculture
  • agricultural drone operation
  • autonomous farm machinery
  • agricultural data analytics
CurrentAgricultural Machinery Operator · 40%
→
Keepprocess monitoring · emergency-procedure execution · crop or livestock knowledge
→
Addautonomous-system supervision · log and telemetry analysis · precision agriculture

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.