Occupation · 2026 assessment

Vegetable crops Researcher

The Vegetable crops Researcher 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.

21%2026
27%2028
34%2030
44%2035

Which tasks are exposed

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

TaskRisk
Monitoring sensors, fields and crop condition25%
Calculating irrigation, nutrition and treatment30%
Sorting produce by visual characteristics28%
Operating machinery on a standard route38%
Diagnosing problems directly in the field17%
Decisions involving weather and living systems3%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

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

  1. 1Monitoring sensors, fields and crop conditionAI 25% · human 86%
  2. 2Calculating irrigation, nutrition and treatmentAI 30% · human 86%
  3. 3Sorting produce by visual characteristicsAI 28% · human 84%
  4. 4Operating machinery on a standard routeAI 38% · human 73%
  5. 5Diagnosing problems directly in the fieldAI 17% · human 93%
  6. 6Decisions involving weather and living systemsAI 3% · human 86%

Why technology can change this work

  • drones and satellites automate field monitoring
  • autonomous machinery takes repetitive operations
  • AI forecasts yield, disease and resource needs

What protects the occupation

  • living systems and weather uncertainty
  • on-farm repair and decision making
  • a large share of value comes from human judgement, trust or personal accountability
  • 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$5 300per month
2035$7 650scenario estimate
2026: $5 30020262027: $5 50020272028: $5 75020282029: $6 00020292030: $6 25020302031: $6 50020312032: $6 80020322033: $7 05020332034: $7 35020342035: $7 6502035
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

  • crop or livestock knowledge
  • farm-condition assessment
  • machinery operation
  • seasonal planning

Skills to build

  • precision agriculture
  • agricultural drone operation
  • autonomous farm machinery
  • agricultural data analytics
CurrentVegetable crops Researcher · 21%
→
Keepcrop or livestock knowledge · farm-condition assessment · machinery operation
→
Addprecision agriculture · agricultural drone operation · autonomous farm machinery

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.