Soil and Plant Scientists: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Soil and Plant Scientists Perform?
Typical responsibilities of soil and plant scientists cover:
- 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.
What Soil and Plant Scientists Need to Know
Effective soil and plant scientists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Soil and Plant Scientists Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Agricultural Specialist
- Agriculturist
- Agronomist
- Apiculturist
- Arboreal Scientist
- Arboriculture Researcher
- Arboriculturist
- Arborist
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 166,387 soil and plant scientists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Soil and Plant Scientists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,587 |
| Hourly median | $28.65 |
| 10th percentile | $38,402 |
| 25th percentile | $48,995 |
| 75th percentile | $70,179 |
| 90th percentile | $80,772 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Soil and Plant Scientists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,820 |
| Idaho | $90,400 |
| Maine | $88,300 |
| Connecticut | $88,040 |
| New Jersey | $85,020 |
| Arkansas | $84,510 |
| Washington | $82,360 |
| California | $80,960 |
| Indiana | $79,820 |
| Mississippi | $79,790 |
| Oregon | $79,460 |
| Ohio | $79,220 |
| Florida | $77,970 |
| Wyoming | $77,500 |
| Nevada | $76,940 |
| Georgia | $75,250 |
| Maryland | $74,820 |
| Louisiana | $74,620 |
| Montana | $74,330 |
| Utah | $72,550 |
| Iowa | $72,440 |
| Virginia | $71,030 |
| Missouri | $70,450 |
| New York | $70,120 |
| Alabama | $69,200 |
| Colorado | $68,420 |
| Minnesota | $68,260 |
| North Carolina | $68,240 |
| Nebraska | $67,150 |
| New Mexico | $65,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,650 |
| Massachusetts | $64,490 |
| Delaware | $64,300 |
| Wisconsin | $63,770 |
| Kentucky | $63,700 |
| Tennessee | $63,420 |
| Kansas | $62,530 |
| Vermont | $62,300 |
| South Dakota | $61,970 |
| North Dakota | $61,790 |
| Michigan | $61,710 |
| Oklahoma | $61,380 |
| Illinois | $60,970 |
| Arizona | $52,830 |
| South Carolina | $51,550 |
| West Virginia | $42,730 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,110 |
Where Soil and Plant Scientists Earn the Most
Compensation for soil and plant scientists differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $88,107 | 1.5% | 0.94 |
| Far Western US | $79,549 | 19.2% | 1.27 |
| Rocky Mountains | $77,198 | 8.9% | 3.12 |
| Middle Atlantic | $73,598 | 6.7% | 0.58 |
| Great Lakes | $70,034 | 12.3% | 1.42 |
| Southeast | $68,554 | 16.8% | 0.80 |
| Plains States | $67,130 | 23.5% | 4.97 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $39,110 | 1.0% | 1.47 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | CA | $113,340 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $105,260 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $103,620 | 220 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $101,250 | 130 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $100,370 | 40 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $99,890 | |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $97,760 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $96,540 | 210 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of soil and plant scientists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6,160 | $73,610 |
| Educational Services | 2,530 | $62,330 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,680 | $77,080 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 870 | $49,200 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 780 | $61,100 |
| Manufacturing | 730 | $99,690 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 350 | $102,980 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 160 | $60,940 |
Soil and Plant Scientists work in the following industries:
Software Soil and Plant Scientists Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for soil and plant scientists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Most soil and plant scientists positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Animal Scientists (Supplemental)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (Supplemental)
- Microbiologists (Primary-Short)
- Biologists (Primary-Long)
- Conservation Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Range Managers (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring soil and plant scientists commonly pursue programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
14 programs across 5 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
5 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-1013.00 (Soil and Plant Scientists).
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