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Agricultural Technician

Agriculture

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Agriculture

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
  2. 2Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
  3. 3Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
  4. 4Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
  5. 5Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification.
  6. 6Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.
  7. 7Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.
  8. 8Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.
  9. 9Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
  10. 10Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.
  11. 11Collect animal or crop samples.
  12. 12Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests.
  13. 13Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.
  14. 14Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.
  15. 15Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.
  16. 16Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.
  17. 17Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.
  18. 18Conduct insect or plant disease surveys.
  19. 19Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
  20. 20Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions.
  21. 21Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas.
  22. 22Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.
  23. 23Prepare culture media, following standard procedures.
  24. 24Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public.
  25. 25Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.
  26. 26Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Lab Tech
  • Seed Tech
  • Cow Tester
  • Dairy Tech
  • Seed Expert
  • Seed Tester
  • Blood Tester
  • Seed Analyst
  • Agronomy Tech
  • Biotechnician

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationHigh school diploma

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

AgricultureDraws directly on Food Production — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Home Science (SRT)Draws directly on Food Production — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BiologyDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Chemistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Food Production72%

    AgricultureHome Science (SRT)

  • Biology71%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • Chemistry68%

    Chemistry

  • Mechanical67%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Mathematics63%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Administration and Management60%

    BusinessEconomics

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentOften
  • Time spent sittingA little
  • Time walking or movingA little
  • Hands-on work with tools or objectsAlmost all the time

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Operate drone technology to capture aerial imagery and data for crop monitoring and analysis.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

11%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.14%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Agricultural Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue