Soil and Plant Scientists
Agriculture, Food and Natural ResourcesO*NET 19-1013.00United States
Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.
- Median annual earnings
- $76,401
- Projected change
- +6.4%
- Typical education
- Master's or Professional degree
- Employment
- 20.88K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
38.1% of the workforce
Growing to 22.23K by 2035
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These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What soil and plant scientists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
- Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
- Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.
- Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
- Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.
- Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.
- Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
- Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.
- Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
- Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.
- Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.
- Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests.
- Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.
- Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.
- Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.
- Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.
- Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $45,666
- 25th percentile
- $58,345
- 50th percentile
- $76,401
- 75th percentile
- $102,647
- 90th percentile
- $139,950
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $76,401 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+6.4%faster than average
202520,883 jobs
2035 projected22,225 jobs
1,342 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Master's or Professional degree
- 38.1%
- Bachelor's degree
- 28.6%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 23.8%
- Certificate
- 4.8%
- Associate degree
- 4.8%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Agronomists341 postings
- 02Botanists65 postings
- 03Soil Scientists52 postings
- 04Research Associates39 postings
- 05Research Physiologists38 postings
- 06Technical Agronomists34 postings
- 07Biological Science Technicians33 postings
- 08Postdoctoral Fellows31 postings
- 09Farm Hands29 postings
- 10Laboratory Assistants28 postings
- 11Research Technicians24 postings
- 12Postdoctoral Research Associates21 postings
- 13Agricultural Workers20 postings
- 14Postdoctoral Associates20 postings
- 15Technicians20 postings
- 16Plant Care Specialists19 postings
- 17Student Assistants18 postings
- 18Student Workers18 postings
- 19Research Assistants17 postings
- 20Regional Agronomists16 postings
Top employers
- 01GPAC193 postings
- 02University of Minnesota57 postings
- 03Oregon State University49 postings
- 04University of Georgia49 postings
- 05Bayer39 postings
- 06Ohio State University36 postings
- 07Pennsylvania State University34 postings
- 08University of Arkansas28 postings
- 09Actalent26 postings
- 10Rutgers University22 postings
- 11Colorado State University21 postings
- 12University of Florida21 postings
- 13University of Kentucky20 postings
- 14University of Wyoming19 postings
- 15Rutgers18 postings
- 16United States Department of Agriculture17 postings
- 17Auburn University16 postings
- 18North Dakota State University16 postings
- 19North Carolina State University15 postings
- 20Pivot Bio14 postings
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