How to become a farm equipment mechanics and service technician
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..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.
What farm equipment mechanics and service technicians do
- Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.
- Record details of repairs made and parts used.
- Dismantle defective machines for repair, using hand tools.
- Tune or overhaul engines.
- Drive trucks to haul tools and equipment for on-site repair of large machinery.
- Test and replace electrical components and wiring, using test meters, soldering equipment, and hand tools.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is farm equipment mechanics and service technician a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 11% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Nevada $65,250
- North Dakota $63,030
- New Jersey $62,300
- South Dakota $62,140
- Delaware $61,850
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.