Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Installation, Maintenance & Repair
• O*NET-SOC code: 49-3041
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Reassemble machines and equipment following repair, testing operation and making adjustments, as necessary.
• Maintain, repair, and overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems.
• 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.
• Clean and lubricate parts.
• Repair or replace defective parts, using hand tools, milling and woodworking machines, lathes, welding equipment, grinders, or saws.
• Test and replace electrical components and wiring, using test meters, soldering equipment, and hand tools.
• Tune or overhaul engines.
• Drive trucks to haul tools and equipment for on-site repair of large machinery.
• Fabricate new metal parts, using drill presses, engine lathes, and other machine tools.
• Repair bent or torn sheet metal.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Adjustable end wrenches, Air wrenches, Angle grinders, Arc welders, Automated lathes, Automatic center punches, Aviation snips, Bearing pullers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
• Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
• Maintenance Workers, Machinery
• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.