Best institutions to study Agricultural Power Machinery Operation
A program that prepares individuals to operate specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment of a stationary, mobile, or hand-operated nature.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 124 Agricultural Power Machinery Operation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0204, a specialization of Agricultural Mechanization (CIP 01.02), and leads most directly to the Agricultural Equipment Operators occupation (BLS SOC 45-2091).
About Agricultural Power Machinery Operation programs
A program that prepares individuals to operate specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment of a stationary, mobile, or hand-operated nature. Includes instruction in operating specialized equipment such as terrestrial and airborne crop-spraying equipment; tractors and hauling equipment; planting and harvesting equipment; cutting equipment; power sources and systems for silos, irrigation, pumping, and applications such as dairy, feeding and shearing operations; processing equipment; and applicable electrical, mechanical, and safety principles.
See also: 49.0202 - Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Agricultural Power Machinery Operation program, part of Agricultural Mechanization, prepares students to operate specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment. This program is ideal for individuals interested in the agricultural field who want to gain hands-on experience with both stationary and mobile machinery used in various agricultural tasks.
Students will acquire essential skills in operating and maintaining specialized equipment, including tractors, crop-spraying machinery, and irrigation systems. Coursework emphasizes mechanical principles, safety practices, and effective communication, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the agricultural industry.
Credentials awarded
What Agricultural Power Machinery Operation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree81 graduates / yr · 6 institutions65%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years23 graduates / yr · 3 institutions19%
- Award of less than 12 weeks16 graduates / yr · 1 institution13%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year4 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.2%
Graduates over time
Agricultural Power Machinery Operation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 168 |
| 2013 | 171 |
| 2014 | 174 |
| 2015 | 165 |
| 2016 | 170 |
| 2017 | 148 |
| 2018 | 124 |
| 2019 | 100 |
| 2020 | 117 |
| 2021 | 109 |
| 2022 | 112 |
| 2023 | 134 |
| 2024 | 91 |
| 2025 | 124 |
Top 9 institutions for Agricultural Power Machinery Operation, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IAPublicAssociate's | 37 | 51% | — | $56,331 |
| 2 | Parkland College Champaign, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 27 | 32% | — | — |
| 3 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IAPublicAssociate's | 19 | 43% | — | $54,829 |
| 4 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IAPublicAssociate's | 15 | 50% | — | — |
| 5 | Kishwaukee College Malta, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 45% | — | — |
| 6 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 58% | — | $53,448 |
| 7 | South Central College North Mankato, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 39% | — | — |
| 8 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OHPublicAssociate's | 2 | 43% | — | — |
| 9 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, ILPublicAssociate's | 1 | 48% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Agricultural Mechanization field (CIP 01.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 4 states
Where Agricultural Power Machinery Operation graduates come from. Each state links to all Agricultural Mechanization programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 3 | 71 | Northeast Iowa Community College37 / yr |
| Illinois | 4 | 49 | Parkland College27 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 2 | South Central College2 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 2 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 45-2091, Agricultural Equipment Operators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Agricultural Power Machinery Operation program can pursue careers as Agricultural Equipment Operators, with a faster-than-average job growth rate of 7.7%. The field offers approximately 10,500 annual openings, with a median wage of $42,580. While no formal educational credential is typically required, an associate's degree can enhance job prospects.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0204
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Agricultural Equipment Operatorsprimary SOC 45-2091 | $41,730 | +7.7% Faster than average | ~10,500 | No formal educational credential |
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3041 | $56,550 | +11.0% Much faster than average | ~3,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Agricultural Power Machinery Operation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
- Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
- Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
- Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
- Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
- Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
Tools and technology used
Other Agricultural Mechanization specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Agricultural Mechanization (CIP 01.02).
- Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/CIP 01.0205
Machine Technology/ Technician 866 graduates / yr44 institutions - Agricultural MechanizationCIP 01.0201467 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Agricultural MechanizationCIP 01.0299partial data27 graduates / yr6 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Irrigation Management Technology/
Technician01.0207
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What types of equipment will I learn to operate?+
You will learn to operate tractors, crop-spraying equipment, planting and harvesting machinery, and more.
What kind of degree can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, or shorter awards.
What skills are important for success in this field?+
Key skills include active listening, critical thinking, and mechanical knowledge.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
You can work as an Agricultural Equipment Operator, with opportunities in related fields such as farm equipment mechanics.
What is the CIP code for Agricultural Power Machinery Operation?+
Agricultural Power Machinery Operation is CIP 01.0204 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Agricultural Mechanization (CIP 01.02). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to operate specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment of a stationary, mobile, or hand-operated nature. Includes instruction in operating specialized equipment such as terrestrial and airborne crop-spraying equipment; tractors and hauling equipment; planting and harvesting equipment; cutting equipment; power sources and systems for silos, irrigation, pumping, and applications such as dairy, feeding and shearing operations; processing equipment; and applicable electrical, mechanical, and safety principles.
How many institutions offer Agricultural Power Machinery Operation programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Agricultural Power Machinery Operation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 124 credentials in the year. That is 8.4% of all Agricultural Mechanization graduates.
How much do Agricultural Power Machinery Operation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Agricultural Equipment Operators occupation, which Agricultural Power Machinery Operation most directly leads to, pays a median of $41,730 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Agricultural Mechanization field report median earnings of $54,829 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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