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Career overview · SOC 19-1013

Soil and Plant Scientists

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.

Also called: Agronomist · Arboriculture Researcher · Crop Nutrition Scientist · Forage Physiologist · Horticulture Specialist · Plant Physiologist

Median pay (national)
$71,410
$45,320–$131,440 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
16,600
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+5.4%
~1,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for soil and plant scientists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $131,440 versus $45,320 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $71,410 leaves roughly 84% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +5.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $100,820, +41% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $39,110 — a 158% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Science as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Mathematics
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
  • 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.
  • Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.
  • Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
  • R
  • SAS
  • 3dMapper
  • Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator EPIC
  • European Soil Erosion Model EUROSEM
  • GAEA Technologies WinSieve
  • GEOEAS
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • GSLIB

Knowledge areas

  • Biology
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Education and Training
  • Geography
  • Communications and Media