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Agricultural Technician
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in handling equipment to perform general farm duties; and in maintaining livestock performance records and in training horses
Interest in co-ordinating information to formulate feeding programs
Interest in supervising feeding, health and breeding programs; may supervise general farm workers and harvesting labourers
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
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 for this NOC group 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.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Duties vary from one position to another. In general, swine technicians monitor the health and well-being of pigs. To do this, they:
Swine technicians may supervise farm labourers.
Swine technicians work primarily in barns. They also may work outdoors in all weather conditions. They must follow safety precautions to avoid injury when working with machinery and tools. They must wear protective clothing. They also must follow good animal hygiene practices to prevent or control the spread of diseases and parasites. Modern barns are well ventilated, and manure is flushed out regularly.
Lifting heavy items routinely is required.
Swine technicians need:
They should enjoy taking a methodical approach to farm duties, keeping records, and supervising feeding, health, and breeding programs.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 18, 2022 and Jun 03, 2023.
Review these skills to learn:
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 74 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Perform general farm duties | 73 |
| Work Setting: Rural area | 69 |
| Attention to detail | 65 |
| Tasks: Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment | 63 |
| Tasks: Maintain work records and logs | 59 |
| Tasks: Maintain quality control and production records | 57 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 54 |
| Tasks: Co-ordinate and supervise the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers | 53 |
| Work under pressure | 51 |
Employers are willing to hire and train people with no previous experience raising pigs. Applicants must like animals and be:
There are no standard education requirements in this occupation. However, many employers prefer applicants with a minimum high school diploma as they can more successfully move up into management. To work independently, swine technicians need knowledge and experience related to:
The Government of Alberta offers the Green Certificate Program. The program provides apprenticeship-style training. It combines hands-on farm mentorship with formal education.
The program is free and available to students at all Alberta high schools. Various specializations, such as swine technician, are offered at each level. Graduates of the Level I Green Certificate Program are certified as farm production technicians. They may earn credits toward their high school diploma for each specialization they complete. Level II (farm production supervisor) and III (agribusiness manager) Green Certificates are also available. They are meant for people interested in a career in agriculture.
To participate in the Green Certificate Program, trainees must be at least 15 years of age and in grade 10, 11, or 12. The training takes about a year. That allows trainees to experience all 4 seasons on a farm.
For more information, students may visit the Green Certificate Program website or ask their guidance counsellor.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Swine technicians work on farms. Most hog farms are family-owned operations; about half have 1 or 2 employees. However, swine production operations are getting bigger and more specialized. For example, farms may specialize in breeding and producing piglets, raising piglets to market weight, or raising purebred hogs to sell as breeding stock.
Those who successfully complete Level 1 of the Alberta Green Certificate Farm Training program may progress to Level 2 (production supervisor) and Level 3 (farm business manager).
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 8252: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers occupational group, 77.5% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 8252: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 1 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
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.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.20 | $28.85 | $19.23 | $18.00 |
| Overall | $15.50 | $33.62 | $21.92 | $21.00 |
| Top | $16.00 | $40.87 | $26.54 | $25.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* 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.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| Public Administration | $66,613 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $45,488 |
| Agriculture | $44,166 |
Alberta Pork website, Producer and Industry Information Centre: www.albertapork.com
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 24, 2023. 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.
