Soil Scientist
Impact: Agricultural productivity and ecosystem health through expert soil science
Study the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil to support agriculture, environmental management, land use planning, and ecosystem conservation. Conduct soil surveys, analyse soil samples, develop soil management recommendations, and advise farmers, land managers, and government agencies on sustainable soil use.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- 20 to 40% for field surveys and site visits
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 38 to 50 hours/week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $100,000
- Entry-level
- $55,000 - $75,000
- Senior
- $160,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 5% (slower than average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate - 50 to 65% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Low
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- 55
Soft skills
- 45
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 2 to 4 years
- Years to senior
- 5 to 8 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Soil Technician > Soil Scientist > Senior Soil Scientist > Principal Soil Scientist > Director of Soil Science
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% low risk as soil science requires physical field work and expert judgment
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7/10
- Meaning
- 7/10
- Work-life balance
- 6.5/10
- Prestige
- 7/10
- Social perception
- High