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.
Also Known As
- Agronomist
- Research Scientist
- Research Soil Scientist
- Scientist
Alternate Job Titles
- Agricultural Specialist
- Agriculturist
- Agronomist
- Apiculturist
- Arboreal Scientist
- Arboriculture Researcher
- Arboriculturist
- Arborist
- Biological Science Technician (Biological Science Tech)
- Botanist
- Corn Breeder
- Cotton Breeder
- Crop Nutrition Scientist
- Crop Protection Research Agronomist
- Entomologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Biology
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Category Flexibility
- Originality
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Adaptability
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: 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).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- R
Tools & Equipment
- Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
- Autosamplers
- Calibrated soil scoops
- Canopy analyzers
- Cell tissue culture incubators
- Circulating water baths
- Colorimeters
- Conductivity meters
- Dataloggers
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Digital pH meters
- Electron microscopes
- Epifluorescence microscopes
- Erlenmeyer flasks
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $45,320 |
| Median | $71,410 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $131,440 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 16,600
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Conservation Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Precision Agriculture Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $46,790
Industrial Ecologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Microbiologists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $87,330
Agricultural Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $84,630
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.