All careersEngineering & science

Agronomist / Soil Scientist

$71,410
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Study soil, crops, and growing methods, then advise farms on improving yields while keeping the land healthy.

Where you work

Farms, fields, labs, and offices

The hours

Full time, busier in growing season

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$71,410
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,700
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
20,700
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree in soil or plant science.

License or certification

No license is required, though a credential such as Certified Crop Adviser can help in the field.

What it takes

Soil scienceCrop managementData analysisField testing

The honest take

Studies soil and crops to help farms grow more while protecting the land, work that blends fieldwork and lab analysis.

Standard Occupational Classification 19-1013. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.