Occupation Details
Agricultural Technicians
Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$32,970.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$39,740.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$50,480.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
660
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
790
+13 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
104
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
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.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Aerosol generators
- Agricultural tractors
- Air compressors
- Air samplers
- Animal head-locks
- Animal measuring sticks
- Animal tatooers
- Artificial insemination syringes
- Balers
- Bed shapers
- Benchtop centrifuges
- Blood collection syringes
- Callicrate banding systems
- Chemical sprayers
- Chisel cultivators
- Combine harvesters
- Compound binocular light microscopes
- Crop sprayers
- Cultivators
- Desktop computers
- Dipping vats
- Disks
- Drying ovens
- Egg setters or hatchers
- Elastrator bands
- Electronic bench scales
- Electronic counters
- Fertilizer or seed spreaders
- Gas welders
- Grain augers
Technology
- Desktop publishing software
- Email software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft operating system
- SAP business and customer relations management software
- Spreadsheet software
- Statistical software
- Web browser software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- collect blood or tissue samples
- draw blood
- artificially inseminate livestock
- feed or water animals
- set up or calibrate laboratory equipment
- maintain laboratory or field equipment
- use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- sterilize or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment
- maintain records, reports, or files
- prepare reports
- communicate technical information
- work as a team member
- use biological testing instruments
- use microscope
- use laboratory equipment
- clean rooms or work areas
- plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- use relational database software
- use spreadsheet software
- use word processing or desktop publishing software
- develop or maintain databases
- adhere to safety procedures
- perform safety inspections in agricultural, forestry, or fishing setting
- conduct field research or investigative studies
- conduct laboratory research or experiments
- conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
- conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
- perform statistical analysis
- use chemical testing or analysis procedures
- use hazardous materials information
- use health or sanitation standards
- use plant or crop transplant techniques
- use plant disease control techniques
- use scientific research methodology
- follow safe waste disposal procedures
- follow microbiology procedures
- use biological research techniques
- use clinical sterilizing technique
- use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
- use quantitative research methods
- use knowledge of metric system
- identify crop characteristics
- recognize disease or parasites in animals
- recognize plant diseases
- recognize tree or forest plant species
- recognize wood species characteristics
- examine biological or other material specimens under microscope
- compile numerical or statistical data
- develop tables depicting data
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- observe plants, flowers, shrubs or trees to ascertain condition
- collect scientific or technical data
- obtain technical support instructions from scientists or engineers
- collect statistical data
- research human or animal disease
- record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.
- Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.
- Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
- Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.
- Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.
- Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.
- Collect animal or crop samples.
- Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
- Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.
- Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.
- Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification.
- Conduct insect or plant disease surveys.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests.
- Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.
- Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions.
- Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.
- Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public.
- Prepare culture media, following standard procedures.
- Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.
- Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.
- Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas.
- Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Adventures of Herman: The Autobiography of Squirmin' Herman the Worm
The Adventures of Herman will help you learn the basic vocabulary of biology: biological composition, digestion and reproduction told through a guided study of the worm. You will gain knowledge of the principles of basic scientific research and application through the creation, observation and maintenance of a worm bin and read critically and analytically by first viewing the biological life of the worm and creating an environment to support life.
Learn MoreAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.
Learn MoreAnimated Periodic Table of the Elements
Browse through the alkali metals, the alkaline earth metals, and both the lanthanide and actinide series and with continue movement of the mouse across the table learn each element's boiling point, its oxidation states, its atomic weight, and its density.
Learn MoreBiology Lesson Plans
Are you looking for complete, well written K12 lesson plans to add to your biology lessons? The topics at this site include: Neuroscience, General Anatomy and Physiology and Environmental Sciences and Animal Biology Activities.
Learn MoreBrooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP)
At Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program, campers 9 to 12 years old interact with and touch living plants and animals, create art, and explore historic sites.
Learn MoreBugscope
The Bugscope project is an educational outreach program for K12 classrooms. The project provides a resource to classrooms so that they may remotely operate a scanning electron microscope to image bugs at high magnification. The microscope is remotely controlled in real time from a classroom computer over the Internet using a web browser.
Learn MoreBuilding a Presence for Science (BaP)
Building a Presence for Science (BaP) was developed with and administered by the National Science Teachers Association beginning in 1996. The BaP goals include: having one teacher in every U.S. school driving improvement in science teaching standards and establishing state networks to promote standards-based science teaching and learning. The New York State initiative was designed to bring standards-based education into every classroom in the state. The Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS) coordinates the project.
Learn MoreColumbia Education Center's Science Mini-Lessons (Elementary)
Youth Net is a server on the Internet that sponsors this group of lesson plans that came from the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshops. They were done by a consortium of teachers from 14 states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States.
Learn MoreColumbia Education Center's Science Mini-Lessons (High School)
Youth Net is a server on the Internet that sponsors this group of lesson plans that came from the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshops. They were done by a consortium of teachers from 14 states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States.
Learn MoreColumbia Education Center's Science Mini-Lessons (Intermediate)
Youth Net is a server on the Internet that sponsors this group of lesson plans that came from the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshops. They were done by a consortium of teachers from 14 states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States.
Learn MoreCurriculum Development Workshop in Plant Sciences 2007
We are offering a workshop for pre- and in-service educators to work with scientists to develop classroom laboratory exercises related to various aspects of plant biology. In addition to developing original projects, we will be reworking ?cookbook? labs to make them more current and inquiry-based. During the week, there will be hands-on plant-based activities, tours of the Boyce Thompson Institute research facilities and seminars on current topics in plant biology. Applications due March 15, 2007.
Learn MoreDiscover Cornell Plantations Children's Tours
Throughout the year, Cornell Plantations hold children's guided group tours. Children investigate an assortment of temperate and tropical plants that feed and clothe the world's population, use their sense of smell and match herbal products to plants while exploring some of the myriad ways herbs have enriched our lives for thousands of years, and pick, smell, and taste their way through the history of vegetable growing in the northeastern United States.
Learn MoreEurekAlert! Science for Kids Portal
The EurekAlert! Science for Kids Portal is a central, online source for kid-friendly news and resources. The Portal is housed within EurekAlert!, the editorially independent, online news service operated by AAAS, the science society. Content for the Portal is provided by hundreds of universities, associations, medical centers and other research organizations worldwide.
Learn MoreGarden Apprentice Program
Become a dynamic, energetic part of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Education Department.The Garden Apprentice Program provides students in grades 8 to 12 with opportunities for personal growth and career development. The four tier program includes training and volunteer placements with increasing levels of responsibility focused on gardening, environmental issues, science, leadership, and career skills.
Learn MoreGarden Mosaics
To learn more about the science behind gardening, Garden Mosaics, a youth and community education program, combines science learning with intergenerational mentoring, multicultural understanding, and community action. Garden Mosaics provides diverse learning opportunities for youth aged 10 to18, educators, and gardeners.
Learn MoreHands-on Activities for Teaching Biology to High School or Middle School Students
These hands-on activities cover a broad range of biological topics, including genetics, natural selection, microorganisms, and human physiology. These activities are designed to:help students understand important biological principles and concepts, develop student understanding of the scientific process, and improve students' writing and math skills.
Learn MoreInside Cancer: Multimedia Education Resources For Cancer
Inside Cancer is a multimedia guide to cancer biology. Cancer causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and more.
Learn MoreLet's Talk About Insects
Let's Talk About Insects is designed to help students ages 9 to11 years of age gain an appreciation of insects; learn how insects grow and develop (metamorphosis), and learn the importance of insects in our environment.
Learn MoreLiveScience
LiveScience is an original content site focusing on the innovative and intriguing in Science and Technology. The website covers news, views and scientific inquiry from an original, provocative point of view. With articles by respected science journalists and contributors, LiveScience looks at new discoveries, intellectual adventures and the idiosyncrasies of the world that surrounds us. The main topics include Animal Domain, Health SciTech, Forces of Nature, Environment, Technology and Science of Fiction.
Learn MoreNational Biological Information Infrastructure Your Home for Biological Information on the Web
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources.The NBII links diverse, high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools and topics that include Habitats, Plants, Animals and Other Organisms, Ecological Topics and more.
Learn MoreNational Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Established in 1988 as a national resource for molecular biology information, NCBI creates public databases, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information - all for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease.
Learn MorePLANTS Database
The PLANTS database includes information on the vascular and nonvascular plants of the United States and its territories. It includes checklists, species abstracts, distributional data, crop information, plants symbols, growth data, references and a variety of other plant information.
Learn MorePlant Genome Research High School Summer Internship
Interns that join Cornell for the summer not only gain a broader knowledge of plant genomics, but also learn new techniques, participate in lab meetings and scientific discussions, and take away a better understanding of genuine scientific research. Application materials are due postmarked by March 1, 2007.
Learn MorePlant Genomics Classroom Resources and Activities
Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University and the Curriculum Development Workshop developed plant based classroom activities. They are formatted to be ready to use for the classroom, with appropriate hand outs and teacher background information.
Learn MorePrograms for Teachers and Students: Exploration Tours
Exploration Tours include Sensory, Ecological, Flower, and Exploring for Plants We Use. The Tours take students preK to 5 on a planned journey that includes a hands on planting activity and a tour of the grounds and possibly Steinhardt Conservatory.
Learn MoreProject Green Reach at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Project Green Reach (PGR) is an outreach program for K to 8 teachers and their classes from Brooklyn's Title I schools. PGR provides: a curriculum package for the topic of your choice, inquiry based instruction in your classroom with a plant for each student, transportation and a guided tour of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, as well as teacher training and supplies for a community horticulture project.Teachers must apply for acceptance into PGR.
Learn MoreRader's Biology4Kids
Biology4Kids.com is a website that teaches the basics of biology to all ages. It has sections on cell structure, cell function, the scientific method, classification, microorganisms, invertebrates, plants, vertebrates, and animal systems.
Learn MoreSci4Kids
Bridging the gap between science, agriculture, and kids, Sci4Kids is geared to children ages 8 to 13. The site is a series of interactive stories based on research projects featured in Agricultural Research. Themes include transportation, weird science, cities, aquaculture and more!
Learn MoreScienCentral News: Making Sense of Science
From broadcast news features to educational products, ScienCentral News not only knows how to communicate complex ideas about medicine, health, technology, and the environment, but they also know how to tell a good story!
Learn MoreScience Adventures Summer Camp: New York City, Long Island and Hudson Valley
Get excited about science with fresh, fun, hands on science programs for K6 grades at Science Adventures. This summer go wild and investigate extreme plants and animals, invent with electronics, launch the Comet Rocket and solve an egyptian mystery.
Learn MoreScience NetLinks: Lessons
Science NetLinks provides a wealth of resources for K to 12 science educators. It is your guide to meaningful standards-based Internet experiences for students. The matrix includes lessons in heredity, agriculture, energy sources, structure of matter and more!
Learn MoreScience technicians
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreTeacher Education Programs at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Teacher Education Programs are offered at Brooklyn Botanic Garden year round and are designed to help you integrate plant studies in your own classroom and extend your lessons to the Garden and other green spaces in your community. Programs include Kitchen Botany: The Plants We Eat , Starting With Seeds: Beginning Investigations Through Inquiry and Worm Composting in the Classroom.
Learn More