Science · SOC 19-1013
Soil and plant science combines field surveys, lab work, and applied ecology requiring physical presence and scientific judgment.
Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
Timeline: AI-powered remote sensing and satellite imagery will automate some survey and classification tasks within 5 years, but the experimental and applied judgment work central to this role will remain human-led.
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$67,950 median pay
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AI job-risk card
Soil and Plant Scientists is watch on AIFear. Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Soil and Plant Scientists is 38/100 (Watch). Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
38 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Communicating research results and writing reports, Classifying soils using geographic and landscape data, Surveying land for mapping and environmental assessments, Planning waste management programs from data. Harder to automate: Conducting field experiments on plant growth and response, Performing chemical soil analysis in lab settings, Developing practical planting and cultivation methods, Altering soil composition to suit specific crops.
Lean into Soil classification and mapping, Precision agriculture technology, Plant physiology and ecology, GIS and remote sensing for land assessment, Environmental impact assessment. Consider roles such as Precision Agriculture Specialist or Environmental Restoration Ecologist or Agricultural Extension Scientist.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.