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Agricultural Technician

Maintaining, repairing and operating the machinery that ensures animals and crops are well cared for

How this role makes a difference

Agriculture, horticulture, and forestry are industries that humans have worked in for thousands of years. They have always involved the nurturing of crops, plants and tree, as well as the care of livestock, including cows, pigs and sheep, but nowadays these industries rely on technologically advanced machinery to make them more efficient and productive.

The mechanical and technological components of machinery require regular maintenance and fast repairs when breakdowns occur. This ensures crops and livestock continue to be nurtured and protected, and produce is delivered in a good condition. You could be the technician who supports these outdoor industries by looking after the advanced machinery that helps them perform at their best.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Operating machinery on farms or in forests, for example milking machinery, tractors, ploughs, or saws
  • Supporting the feeding and care of farm animals
  • Treating animals, crops and trees to prevent disease
  • Maintaining farm buildings
  • Solving mechanical and electrical problems
  • Compiling reports on the condition of machines
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Decisive
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

A love of being outdoors and interacting with nature.

An interest in plants, trees and animals and how to look after them well.

An ability to think a problem through and find the best solution.

Confidence to carry out tasks independently and take responsibility for your own work.

An ability to assess available options and make sound judgements quickly.

Skill at being careful and accurate, particularly about small details.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- animals and nature

- sports, adventures and outdoors

- exploring problems and findings answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

Having experienced a range of different tasks in an agricultural, horticultural, or a forestry environment, you could decide to specialise in one area and become an expert people turn to for advice.

You might decide you like being involved in all aspects of a farm, forest, or growing centre and progress to a team leader, management or inspection role.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You are likely to spend a lot of time outdoors in this role, being amongst the animals, land, and forests where specialist machinery is used. You’ll conduct inspections of machines, confirm how well machinery is performing and support customers with their needs.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Livestock and Field Technician

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technicians who
do this role

Josh Misselbrook

Agricultural Technician

Josh Misselbrook
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