Explore the rankings
Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
68/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
52/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage86%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.High
73
Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.High
72
Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).High
73
Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.High
73
Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.High
72
Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.High
74
Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.High
72
Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.High
71
Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.Medium
74
Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.Medium
64
Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.Medium
72
Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated.Medium
73
Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.Medium
73
Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.Medium
74
Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.Medium
73
Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.Medium
72
Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.High
23
Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.Medium
23
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.74
  2. Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.74
  3. Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.74
  4. Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.73
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.01
  2. Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.02
  3. Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.03
  4. Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.04
  5. Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

See all rankings →
Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency76
Physical dependency57
Adoption pressure60
Labour-market resilience65
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →