• Soil and Plant Scientists
    • ☆☆☆☆☆
  • Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Annual Median Wage
    $ 73,000
    $35,430 range bar $137,140
    Annual NC Wage Range
    Growth Rate
    Image of growth rate score 5
    Very Fast Growing
  • Soil and Plant Scientists conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops, trees, shrubs, and nursery stock. They study the chemical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth.

What do they typically do

  • Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests
  • Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public, or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops
  • Conduct research to identify best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products
  • Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners about ways to best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion
  • Conduct experiments to investigate how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms
  • Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests
  • Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects
  • Conduct experiments to develop new or improved field crops, focusing on characteristics like quality, disease resistance, or adaptation to specific soils or climates

Number of Jobs

Average Annual
Job Growth +1.5%
Job Openings 274

Job Listings

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Education & Training

Private Training Programs
2046

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