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.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 130 | $80,420 | $38.67 | |
| Alaska | 40 | $61,850 | $29.74 | |
| Arizona | 160 | $82,460 | $39.65 | |
| Arkansas | 120 | $66,850 | $32.14 | |
| California | 1,340 | $88,630 | $42.61 | |
| Colorado | 440 | $66,370 | $31.91 | |
| Connecticut | 110 | $80,220 | $38.57 | |
| Delaware | 80 | $71,710 | $34.48 | |
| Florida | 170 | $84,080 | $40.42 | |
| Hawaii | 70 | $67,810 | $32.60 | |
| Idaho | 340 | $81,970 | $39.41 | |
| Illinois | 960 | $60,130 | $28.91 | |
| Indiana | 260 | $53,480 | $25.71 | |
| Iowa | 980 | $74,110 | $35.63 | |
| Kansas | 380 | $69,030 | $33.19 | |
| Kentucky | 160 | $71,450 | $34.35 | |
| Maine | 30 | $68,940 | $33.15 | |
| Maryland | $93,640 | $45.02 | ||
| Massachusetts | $75,200 | $36.15 | ||
| Michigan | 510 | $60,890 | $29.27 | |
| Minnesota | 520 | $61,270 | $29.46 | |
| Mississippi | 40 | $95,890 | $46.10 | |
| Missouri | 280 | $56,220 | $27.03 | |
| Montana | 200 | $66,900 | $32.16 | |
| Nebraska | 680 | $65,750 | $31.61 | |
| Nevada | 30 | $107,720 | $51.79 | |
| New Jersey | 50 | $83,220 | $40.01 | |
| New Mexico | 50 | $88,290 | $42.45 | |
| New York | 200 | $82,790 | $39.80 | |
| North Carolina | 1,960 | $102,740 | $49.40 | |
| North Dakota | 260 | $64,650 | $31.08 | |
| Ohio | 400 | $68,520 | $32.94 | |
| Oklahoma | 230 | $73,170 | $35.18 | |
| Oregon | 550 | $86,680 | $41.67 | |
| Pennsylvania | $64,970 | $31.24 | ||
| South Carolina | 30 | $81,910 | $39.38 | |
| South Dakota | 310 | $65,860 | $31.66 | |
| Tennessee | 120 | $74,600 | $35.86 | |
| Texas | 400 | $78,490 | $37.74 | |
| Utah | 60 | $67,460 | $32.44 | |
| Vermont | 30 | $69,180 | $33.26 | |
| Virginia | 420 | $63,070 | $30.32 | |
| Washington | 930 | $67,860 | $32.63 | |
| Wisconsin | 500 | $64,440 | $30.98 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that focuses on the general principles and practice of agricultural research and production and that may prepare individuals to apply this knowledge to the solution of practical agricultural problems. Includes instruction in basic animal, plant, and soil science; animal husbandry and plant cultivation; soil conservation; and agricultural operations such as farming, ranching, and agricultural business.
A program that focuses on agricultural principles and practices that, over the long term, enhance environmental quality, make efficient use of nonrenewable resources, integrate natural biological cycles and controls, and are economically viable and socially responsible; and that may prepare individuals to apply this knowledge to the solution of agricultural and environmental problems. Includes instruction in principles of agroecology, crop and soil sciences, entomology, horticulture, animal science, weed science and management, soil fertility and nutrient cycling, applied ecology, agricultural economics, and rangeland ecology and watershed management.
A program that focuses on the application of scientific and agribusiness principles to the production of grapes, the making of wine, and the wine business. Includes instruction in grapes and wines of the world; grape production; winemaking technology; plant biology; chemistry; food science, safety, and packaging; soil science; pest management; and marketing and business management.
A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products. Includes instruction in the plant sciences, crop cultivation and production, and agricultural and food products processing.
A program that focuses on the chemical, physical, and biological relationships of crops and the soils nurturing them. Includes instruction in the growth and behavior of agricultural crops, the development of new plant varieties, and the scientific management of soils and nutrients for maximum plant nutrition, health, and productivity.
A program that focuses on the scientific principles related to the cultivation of garden and ornamental plants, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and landscape and nursery crops. Includes instruction in specific types of plants, such as citrus; breeding horticultural varieties; physiology of horticultural species; and the scientific management of horticultural plant development and production through the life cycle.
A program that focuses on the application of genetics and genetic engineering to the improvement of agricultural plant health, the development of new plant varieties, and the selective improvement of agricultural plant populations. Includes instruction in genetics, genetic engineering, population genetics, agronomy, plant protection, and biotechnology.
A program that focuses on the application of scientific principles to the control of animal, insect and weed infestation of domesticated plant populations and other settings, including agricultural crops; the prevention/reduction of attendant economic loss; and the control of environmental pollution and degradation related to pest infestation and pest control measures. Includes instruction in entomology, applicable animal sciences, plant pathology and physiology, weed science, crop science, and environmental toxicology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of rangelands, arid regions, grasslands, and other areas of low productivity, as well as the principles of managing such resources for maximum benefit and environmental balance. Includes instruction in livestock management, wildlife biology, plant sciences, ecology, soil science, and hydrology.
Any instructional program in plant sciences not listed above.
A program that generally focuses on the scientific classification of soils, soil properties, and their relationship to agricultural crops. Includes instruction in soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil fertility, morphogenesis, mineralogy, hydrology, agronomy, and soil conservation and management.
A program that focuses on the application of chemical and physical principles to research and analysis concerning the nature and properties of soils and the conservation and management of soils. Includes instruction in soil and fluid mechanics, mineralogy, sedimentology, thermodynamics, geomorphology, environmental systems, analytical methods, and organic and inorganic chemistry.
Any instructional program in the soil sciences not listed above.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of plants, related microbial organisms, and plant habitats and ecosystem relations. Includes instruction in plant anatomy and structure, phytochemistry, cytology, plant genetics, plant morphology and physiology, plant ecology, plant taxonomy and systematics, paleobotany, and applications of biophysics and molecular biology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of plant diseases and plant health, and the development of disease control mechanisms. Includes instruction in plant anatomy and physiology, pathogenesis, molecular plant virology, molecular genetics, bacterial epidemiology, causal agent identification, host/agent interactions, disease resistance and response mechanisms, developing plant disease treatments, disease prevention, and disease physiology and control.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of plant internal dynamics and systems, plant-environment interaction, and plant life cycles and processes. Includes instruction in cell and molecular biology; plant nutrition; plant respiration; plant growth, behavior, and reproduction; photosynthesis; plant systemics; and ecology.
A program that focuses on the application of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics to the study of biomolecular structures, functions, and processes specific to plants and plant substances. Includes instruction in the biochemistry of plant cells, nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions, molecular cytostructures, photosynthesis, plant molecular genetics, and the molecular biology of plant diseases.
Any instructional program in botany/plant biology not listed above.
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$76,290 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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Bachelor's degreeTypical education requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as soil and plant scientists.
- Less than high school 0%
- High school graduate 0%
- College dropout 0%
- Associate’s degree 0%
- Bachelor’s degree 60%
- Master’s degree 27%
- Doctorate degree 13%
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