Farm Equipment Mechanic

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
• Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
• Repair defective engines or engine components.
• Repair pipes to stop leaking.
• Repair structural components.
• Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
• Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
• Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
• Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
• Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.

Typical Working Conditions

• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Exposure to hazardous equipment.
• Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• Working with a group or team.

Tools & Technology used by Farm Equipment Mechanics

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Farm Equipment Mechanics

• Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Maintaining Equipment—Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Choosing Equipment or Tools—Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Farm Equipment Mechanics

• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• 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.
• Physics—Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design—Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Transportation—Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• 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.
• 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.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is currently in moderate demand. There will be a need for about 1,675 new Farm Equipment Mechanics to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career requires at least some college, or on-the-job training, and many have an associates degree.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from Central Lakes College.

Spotlight on Central Lakes College

• Why consider CLC?
• Virtual Campus Tours: Brainerd Campus, Staples Campus
• Learn more about the CLC Honors Program.
• Attend CLC, and you may never need to buy a textbook.

If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at CLC.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Biology
• Business English
• Chemistry
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• Mechanics
• Trigonometry
• Wildlife Management

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise