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.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
Key knowledge
- Biology
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Geography
- Communications and Media
What the work involves
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- 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.
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
- 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.
- Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.
- Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Realistic, Conventional.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Master's Degree (28.6% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (28.6%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (28.6%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 5: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Soil and Plant Scientists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 78% of occupations compared | 48% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time” |
| Dealing with the public | Moderate | Lower on dealing with the public than 51% of occupations compared | 38% of surveyed respondents chose “Important” |
| Teamwork | Low | Lower on teamwork than 67% of occupations compared | 43% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | High | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 72% of occupations compared | 52% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Very low | Lower on time pressure than 85% of occupations compared | 48% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 72% of occupations compared | 65% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 73% of occupations compared | 65% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Low | Lower on consequence of error than 65% of occupations compared | 52% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: very low
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
- Consequence of error: low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 0%
- Contact with others about half the time: 28.57%
- Contact with others most of the time: 47.62%
- Constant contact with others: 23.81%
n = 21, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 9.52%
- Fairly important: 4.76%
- Important: 38.1%
- Very important: 33.33%
- Extremely important: 14.29%
n = 21, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 4.76%
- Important: 19.05%
- Very important: 42.86%
- Extremely important: 33.33%
n = 21, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0%
- Limited freedom: 14.29%
- Some freedom: 33.33%
- A lot of freedom: 52.38%
n = 21, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 14.29%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 47.62%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 28.57%
- Every day: 9.52%
n = 21, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Conflict situations
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 65%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 20%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 15%
- Every day: 0%
n = 20, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 65%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 30%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 5%
- Every day: 0%
n = 20, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 4.76%
- Fairly serious: 52.38%
- Serious: 19.05%
- Very serious: 19.05%
- Extremely serious: 4.76%
n = 21, Occupational Expert 08/2021
Is this career right for me? Find jobs with conditions you prefer
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O*NET-SOC 19-1013.00 · SOC 19-1013 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8