Agricultural Mechanic, Equipment and Appliance Service Trades, Farm Equipment Mechanic, Mechanic, Service Technician
Interest in precision working with hand and power tools to adjust equipment and repair and replace defective parts, components and systems
Interest in cleaning, lubricating and performing other routine maintenance work, and in servicing attachments and working tools such as harvesting and tillage equipment, blades, ploughs, winches and side booms
Interest in analyzing to diagnose faults and malfunctions, using computerized and other testing equipment, to determine extent of repair required
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Duties vary from one position to another but, in general, agricultural equipment technicians:
Technicians may specialize in service and repair of fuel injection pumps and injectors, engine overhaul, hydraulic systems, power shift transmissions or specific types of equipment (for example, combines, forage harvesters, tractors).
Agricultural equipment technicians may work in fully equipped service centres or they may travel to farms to make service calls. Hours of work vary from regular hours during the winter to long and hectic hours during planting and harvesting seasons.
Agricultural equipment technicians routinely handle heavy machine parts, some weighing over 20 kilograms.
Agricultural equipment technicians need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy working with their hands and diagnosing complex mechanical, hydraulic and electrical problems.
Apprentices need experience in the agriculture industry and must keep up to date with new developments in the agricultural equipment field.
To work in Alberta, an agricultural equipment technician must be ONE of the following:
To register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, apprentices must:
The term of apprenticeship is four years (four 12 month periods) that include a minimum of 1,500 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of technical training each year. High school students can earn credits toward apprenticeship training and a high school diploma at the same time through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
Applicants who have related training or work experience may be eligible for credit or certification.
Agricultural equipment technician apprentices may take the interprovincial exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training to earn a Red Seal (certification recognized in most parts of Canada).
Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:
NAIT also offers technical training by distance delivery.
For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Agricultural implement companies sometimes provide short manufacturers' service courses to help agricultural equipment technicians develop skills for servicing particular lines of equipment.
This is an Apprenticeship trade. For full details, see the related certification profile
Below-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.
Most agricultural equipment technicians are employed by retail agricultural equipment dealerships.
Where a number of technicians are employed by one business, experienced agricultural equipment technicians may advance to supervisory positions. Alberta certified journeyperson technicians who have the supervisory or management skills required by industry may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Agricultural equipment technicians can move into sales positions or become manufacturer's service representatives. Individuals with business and administrative skills may move into management positions with a company or purchase an agricultural equipment dealership.
Agricultural equipment technicians are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7312: Heavy-duty equipment mechanics. In Alberta, 75% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Over 19,600 Albertans are employed in the Heavy-duty equipment mechanics occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.3% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 255 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As agricultural equipment technicians form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for agricultural equipment technicians.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $30 to $45 an hour plus benefits (2014 estimates) depending on the region. Apprentice agricultural equipment technicians earn at least 60% of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70% in the second, 80% in the third and 90% in the fourth.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $17.00 | $45.02 | $31.43 | $30.95 |
| Overall | $22.25 | $48.15 | $38.34 | $40.00 |
| Top | $29.00 | $57.35 | $45.04 | $45.00 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website: tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Canada West Equipment Dealers Association website: www.cweda.ca
For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.
Updated Mar 23, 2015. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.