Soil and Plant Scientists

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
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.

What a soil and plant scientist does

Become a soil and plant scientist

If you enjoy doing these activities, you might make a good soil and plant scientist

  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  • Reading work related information.
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

Discover what you could earn in Washington

  • Average hourly rate is $35 per hour with an average salary of $73,000 per year.
  • Half of workers earn between $28 and $38 per hour.
  • Half of workers earn an annual salary between $57,800 and $79,200 per year.

Soil And Plant Scientist job outlook

  • There are 687 workers in this occupation in Washington.
  • There are 173 openings per year in this occupation in Washington.

Growth rate by year

Education needed

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).

Programs to get you there

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