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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

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.

Also called: Agronomist, Arboriculture Researcher, Crop Nutrition Scientist, Forage Physiologist, Horticulture Specialist, Plant Physiologist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$69,880
$33.60/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
Not published
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$67,000$67,000$69,880$89,830$89,830

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure73 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 61
  • Language-model AIOE 62
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 95

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

Soil and plant scientists have higher AI exposure, and some AI use is already seen in this work. AI tools can help with analyzing research data, writing up results, and drafting recommendations. Field visits, hands-on experiments, and working directly with farmers and landowners still depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing experiment and soil data
  • Writing reports and sharing research results

Still relies on people

  • Investigating soil and water problems in the field
  • Advising farmers and landowners face to face

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

    Investigating soil and water problems and recommending fixes carries over to spotting hazards and protecting workers. It offers a Boston median pay of $105,960 and faster projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$36,080 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +13.2%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Microbiologists

    Your lab and field science skills carry over to testing water and environmental samples for microorganisms. Boston median pay is $122,350.

    Pay difference
    +$52,470 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Chemists

    Studying soil chemistry and running experiments builds toward analyzing compounds and improving methods. Chemists earn a Boston median pay of $127,290.

    Pay difference
    +$57,410 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.0%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston (plus 2 graduate)

Related occupations

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