# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/soil-and-plant-scientists
- SOC code: 19-1013.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $78,850 (10th percentile $48,680, 90th percentile $138,120)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.7%
- Openings a year: 1,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 95 |
| Artistic (A) | 18 |
| Social (S) | 11 |
| Enterprising (E) | 12 |
| Conventional (C) | 40 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 91/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 87/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 83/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Processing Information (importance 82/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 80/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 76/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Active Learning, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Science, Speaking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Biology, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Education and Training, Geography, Communications and Media, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management

## Also called

Agricultural Specialist, Agriculturist, Agronomist, Apiculturist, Arboreal Scientist, Arboriculture Researcher, Arboriculturist, Arborist, Biological Science Technician (Biological Science Tech), Botanist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Agricultural Production Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0103) (CIP 0103, 294 colleges)
- [Agriculture, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0100) (CIP 0100, 195 colleges)
- [Food Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0110) (CIP 0110, 168 colleges)
- [Plant Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0111) (CIP 0111, 162 colleges)
- [Botany/Plant Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2603) (CIP 2603, 80 colleges)
- Soil Sciences (CIP 0112, 40 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville-main-campus-2761) | Soil Sciences | $42,016 | $88,563 | not reported |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Food Science and Technology | $57,824 | $85,445 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Agriculture, General | $56,536 | $84,412 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Food Science and Technology | $66,519 | $84,147 | not reported |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus-1896) | Agricultural Production Operations | $66,359 | $83,779 | $23,246 |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | Food Science and Technology | $58,376 | $80,979 | $18,673 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Food Science and Technology | $48,488 | $80,161 | not reported |
| [South Dakota State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-dakota-state-university-2445) | Plant Sciences | $58,913 | $78,494 | $20,500 |

## Related careers

- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Precision Agriculture Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/precision-agriculture-technicians): $49,630 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Microbiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/microbiologists): $87,990 median pay
- [Agricultural Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-engineers): $98,590 median pay
- [Biologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biologists): $98,920 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.