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Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $56,550 Median per year · $27.19/hr Most earn $37,470–$78,740

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Maintain, repair, and overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems.
  • Dismantle defective machines for repair, using hand tools.
  • Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.
  • Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.
  • Repair or replace defective parts, using hand tools, milling and woodworking machines, lathes, welding equipment, grinders, or saws.
  • Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
11% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 3,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Farm and garden machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers59.0%
  • Crop production12.2%
  • Animal production and aquaculture4.2%
  • Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance4.2%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods3.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Farm equipment mechanic is usually not a straight-from-school job. Most people finish high school, complete a certificate or apprenticeship, and then spend about 1 to 2 years getting hands-on experience before working on their own. Good mechanical skills and a willingness to learn matter more than any single class.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Take shop, math, and science classes and learn basic engine and tool skills, which are the foundation for hands-on repair training.

  2. Outdoor Power Equipment Mechanic

    1-2 years

    Work on small engines, mowers, and similar equipment to learn diagnosis, repair, and safe tool use before moving to larger machines.

  3. Certificate or apprenticeship in agricultural equipment technology

    1-2 years

    Complete formal training on tractors, combines, hydraulics, and electrical systems, often while working under an experienced technician.

  4. Farm Equipment Mechanic

    Ongoing

    Diagnose, adjust, repair, and overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, and keep learning as new equipment technology comes out.

Where it can lead

  1. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move from farm machines to larger construction and heavy equipment, which requires more advanced hydraulics and diagnostic skills.

  2. Service Manager

    5-8 years of experience first

    You supervise a repair shop or dealership service department, schedule technicians, and handle customers, so you need strong people and planning skills along with technical knowledge.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, auto, or agriculture classesHands-on courses teach you tools, engines, and basic mechanical thinking that you'll use every day as a technician.
  • Join an agricultural or mechanics clubClub projects let you practice repairs, meet people in farming and trades, and build a record of what you have done.
  • Get a summer job on a farm or at a repair shopHelping with equipment maintenance, even in simple ways, gives you real exposure to machines and to how a service job works.
  • Practice on small enginesWorking on lawn mowers, bikes, or small motors at home builds diagnosis skills and confidence with tools.
  • Build strong math and reading skillsMeasurements, manuals, and diagnostic guides are part of the job, so good math and reading help you succeed in training.

In college

  • Enroll in an agricultural equipment, diesel, or heavy equipment technology programA certificate or associate program teaches the engine, hydraulic, and electrical systems you will use on farm machines every day.
  • Seek a dealership or farm internshipPaid or unpaid hands-on work with a dealership service department gives you experience and often leads to job offers.
  • Work a campus or part-time job in a maintenance or machine shopAny job that involves tools, equipment upkeep, or repair builds practical skills and shows employers you can work reliably.
  • Earn manufacturer or safety certificationsBrand-specific training and workplace safety credentials make you more attractive to employers and help you advance.
  • Take courses in electronics and computer diagnosticsModern farm equipment relies heavily on sensors and software, so these skills make you a stronger technician.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local equipment dealer or repair shop whether they hire part-time helpers or summer workers. Hands-on experience is what employers look for most.
  • Take any manufacturer training or certification offered through a community college or dealership, since many employers value brand-specific skills.
  • Keep a simple log of the repairs you help with. It gives you concrete examples to talk about in job interviews.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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