Published: February 15, 2022
Updated: October 27, 2026
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An agricultural equipment technician, usually just called an ag mechanic, is the person who keeps tractors, combines, planters, sprayers and tillage tools running for the farmers who depend on them. It is hands-on work, it is in steady demand across Indiana and Ohio, and pay rises with skill and training. You can get into it through a two-year John Deere Tech Program, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job experience. Here is what the job looks like, what it takes, and how to start with us at Koenig Equipment.
What does an ag equipment technician do?
Ag equipment technicians repair, overhaul and maintain the heavy equipment used on farms. You will work on everything from tractors and combines to tillage equipment, planters, drills and sprayers. Some days you are in the shop; others you are out in the field setting up or repairing engines, hydraulic systems, electronics and mechanical problems.
Be honest with yourself about one thing before you go further. This is not a bench job. During planting and harvest you will take field calls, work some long days, and deal with weather. If you like solving problems in the real world and want your work to matter to a neighbor's operation, that is the appeal. If you want a predictable schedule year-round, this is probably not the right fit.
Why become an ag equipment technician?
Variety in the work
You will work on many types of farm equipment and many types of tasks. One day you may be running diagnostics on a laptop, the next getting a new tractor or combine ready for the field, the next rebuilding an engine on an older machine. No two days look alike.
Demand and job security
Farm equipment keeps getting more capable and more complex, and the need for people who can keep it running keeps growing with it. Good technicians are hard to find, which is why dealers like us invest in training them.
What ag mechanics are paid
Pay depends on where you work, how much experience you have, and what training and certifications you have completed, the same as any skilled trade. Technicians who keep adding training earn more over time. We would rather tell you an actual starting rate than quote a number here, so ask your nearest store or bring it up when you apply.
Room to move up
A technician role is a starting point, not a ceiling. Additional training is always available and often paid for by the employer, including at Koenig Equipment. Technicians here can grow into field technician, master technician, or service management roles if leadership interests them.
What skills do ag mechanics need?
As more electronics and technology go into farm equipment, a technician's job gets more complex. In addition to diesel mechanics, you need to understand computer diagnostics, electronically controlled hydraulics, GPS and guidance systems, and more.
Attention to detail is a must for diagnosing and repairing problems correctly the first time. You also need a real interest in learning, because the equipment changes every year. And while technicians are not always face-to-face with Customers, you will often need to talk with them to collect information about the machine or explain a repair, so communication matters too.
How do I become an ag equipment technician?
Schooling and apprenticeships
There are several paths. You can attend a trade school like Vincennes University, Owens Community College, or the University of Northwest Ohio and earn an associate degree. You can also find an apprenticeship. Some people start with no degree or certification on the strength of on-the-job experience, but most employers will want you to earn certification after you are hired if you take that route.
Whichever path you choose, work while you are in school if you can, through a part-time job or internship. Experience before graduation puts you ahead of other applicants when you look for a full-time position.
John Deere Tech Program in Indiana and Ohio
If you are near Ohio or Indiana, or would relocate for a quality program, the John Deere Tech Program is offered at Vincennes University in Indiana and Owens Community College in Ohio. It is a two-year associate degree that combines classroom learning with hands-on work on current John Deere equipment, built to prepare you for a job at a John Deere dealership.
Koenig Equipment sponsors students in the program with paid work experience and tuition help, so you gain real experience early and carry less debt into your first full-time job. Ask us about the details when you reach out.
How to take the next step with Koenig
If this sounds like you, the best next move is to see the job up close. Contact your nearest store and ask to job shadow a technician for a day, or just call with your questions. Then take a look at current openings on our careers page.