Agricultural Technical Officer Career Profile

What the role involves

Agricultural technical officers provide technical support and practical advice in areas such as agricultural research, production, field trials, monitoring, servicing and advisory work. They may work alongside agricultural scientists, agronomists, farmers, researchers, government officers or commercial agriculture teams.

Depending on the employer, the role may be field-based, laboratory-based, office-based or a mix of all three. Some roles focus on crops, soil, pests, livestock, irrigation, machinery, data, trials, biosecurity or quality assurance.

Typical employers

Agricultural technical officer roles in Australia may be found with:

• state and federal agriculture departments
• agricultural research organisations
• universities, TAFEs and research stations
• agribusiness companies
• seed, fertiliser, chemical and biological product companies
• livestock, dairy, horticulture and cropping enterprises
• soil, plant and agricultural testing laboratories
• farm technology, machinery and precision agriculture businesses
• natural resource management, biosecurity or sustainability programs linked to agriculture

Key tasks

• providing technical support for agricultural research, trials or production programs
• collecting, preparing and testing soil, plant, water, crop or livestock samples
• recording and analysing field, laboratory or production data
• assisting with crop, livestock, pasture, pest, disease or irrigation monitoring
• setting up and maintaining field trials, equipment, sensors or machinery
• supporting agricultural scientists, agronomists, consultants or farm managers
• preparing technical notes, reports, maps, records or recommendations
• helping ensure biosecurity, quality assurance and safety procedures are followed
• liaising with farmers, researchers, suppliers, contractors or government staff

Skills and qualities

Agricultural technical work suits people who enjoy practical science, problem-solving and working with agricultural systems. Useful qualities include:

• interest in agriculture, food production, land management and sustainability
• good observation and data-recording skills
• comfort working in the field, laboratory, office or on farms
• ability to follow technical procedures and safety requirements
• analytical thinking and attention to detail
• clear communication with farmers, scientists and technical teams
• basic understanding of crops, livestock, soils, machinery or agricultural systems
• good organisation and record-keeping
• willingness to travel to regional areas, research sites or farms where required

Qualifications and pathways

Agricultural technical officer roles commonly require vocational or tertiary study in agriculture, agricultural science, land management, applied science or a related field. Practical field experience is also highly valuable, especially for roles involving trials, sampling, farm visits, machinery, soil, crops, livestock or biosecurity.

• Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Agriculture, Agronomy, Land Management or Applied Science
• Associate Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Science or Agribusiness
• Bachelor-level study in Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Agribusiness or a related field
• Training in soil, plant, crop, livestock, irrigation, biosecurity or precision agriculture systems
• Field sampling, laboratory, GIS, data analysis or machinery experience
• Driver licence, first aid, chemical handling or farm safety training, depending on the role

With experience, agricultural technical officers may progress into senior technical officer, agricultural technician, agronomist, research officer, production adviser, biosecurity officer, agricultural consultant or project officer roles.

Salary and job outlook

Agricultural technical officer salaries can vary depending on qualifications, employer, region, industry, technical specialisation, fieldwork requirements and whether the role is in research, government, agribusiness, farm production, laboratory work or technology support. Salary information changes over time, so it is best to check current Australian salary, occupation and award resources before applying or negotiating pay.

Where jobs are usually found in Australia

Agricultural technical officer jobs are commonly found in regional and rural areas, as well as research centres, universities, laboratories and government offices. Opportunities are often linked to cropping regions, livestock industries, horticulture, dairy, viticulture, irrigation districts, biosecurity programs, research stations and agribusiness service hubs.

Tips for getting started

• look for entry points in agricultural technician, research assistant, field officer or laboratory assistant roles
• build practical experience on farms, research trials, laboratories or agricultural projects
• develop strong skills in data collection, sampling, field notes and technical reporting
• learn about soil health, crop production, livestock systems, biosecurity or sustainable agriculture
• gain confidence using agricultural equipment, sensors, mapping tools or laboratory methods
• be open to regional work, seasonal fieldwork and travel to farms or research sites
• include any chemical handling, first aid, driver licence, machinery, GIS or lab experience on your resume

Related environmental careers

• Farm Manager
• Natural Resource Officer
• Environmental Scientist
• Landcare Worker
• Pest and Weed Controller
• Environmental Laboratory Assistant
• Irrigation Officer / Manager
• Sustainability Officer