Home / Career Explorer / Natural Sciences

Soil and Plant Scientists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$71,410	1700	7.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$71,410

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

1700

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

7.2%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Master's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Detailed Work Activities

Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
Develop agricultural methods.
Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives.
Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
Develop environmental sustainability plans or projects.
Direct natural resources management or conservation programs.
Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs.
Direct natural resources management or conservation programs.
Conduct climatological research.
Analyze environmental data.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Advise others about land management or conservation.
Research crop management methods.
Develop sustainable industrial or development methods.
Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
Research hydrologic features or processes.
Research geological features or processes.
Develop agricultural methods.
Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems.
Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs.
Survey land or properties.
Analyze biological samples.
Advise others about land management or conservation.
Develop agricultural methods.
Research crop management methods.
Collaborate with technical specialists to resolve design or development problems.
Develop agricultural methods.
Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems.
Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
Classify organisms based on their characteristics or behavior.
Research diseases or parasites.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
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.
Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
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.
Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.
Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.
Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.
Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.
Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.
Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.
Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.
Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.
Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.
Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.
Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.
Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.

Work Styles

Persistence

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Achievement/Effort

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired