DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
19-1013 Soil and Plant Scientists
Occupational Description:
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.| Percentiles | |||||||||
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| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 650 | 163 | $36.45/hr | $2.15/hr | $20.83/hr | $25.92/hr | $33.19/hr | $44.28/hr | $52.14/hr |
| U S | 14,150 | 679 | $33.93/hr | $0.44/hr | $18.66/hr | $24.11/hr | $30.70/hr | $40.04/hr | $54.16/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | 900 | $34.81/hr | 1.8% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 690 | $30.91/hr | 1.7% |
| Conservation Scientists | 630 | $30.49/hr | 1.9% |
| Agricultural Inspectors | 370 | $27.15/hr | 1.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 220 | $35.76/hr | 0.5% |
Tasks for Soil and Plant Scientists
- Conducts research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, and harvesting horticultural products.
- Improves bee strains, utilizing selective breeding by artificial insemination.
- Identifies and classifies species of insects and allied forms, such as mites and spiders.
- Develops methods for control of noxious weeds, crop diseases, and insect pests.
- Conducts experiments and investigations to determine methods of storing, processing, and transporting horticultural products.
- Studies insect distribution and habitat and recommends methods to prevent importation and spread of injurious species.
- Conducts experiments regarding causes of bee diseases and factors affecting yields of nectar pollen on various plants visited by bees.
- Aids in control and elimination of agricultural, structural and forest pests by developing new and improved pesticides.
- Studies crop production to discover effects of various climatic and soil conditions on crops.
- Experiments to develop new or improved varieties of products having specific features, such as higher yield, resistance to disease, size, or maturity.
- Studies soil characteristics and classifies soils according to standard types.
- Performs chemical analysis on micro-organism content of soil to determine microbial reactions and chemical mineralogical relationship to plant growth.
- Provides advice on rural or urban land use.
- Investigates responses of specific soil types to soil management practices, such as fertilization, crop rotation, and industrial waste control.
- Conducts experiments on farms or experimental stations to determine best soil types for different plants.
