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Agricultural Scientists


Overview

Agricultural Scientists

Introduction

Agricultural scientists study all aspects of living organisms and the relationships of plants and animals to their environment. They conduct basic research in laboratories or in the field. They apply the results to such tasks as increasing crop and animal yields and improving the environment. Some agricultural scientists plan and administer programs for testing foods, drugs, and other products. Others direct activities at public exhibits at such places as zoos and botanical gardens. Agricultural engineers apply engineering ...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$58,380

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Master's Degree
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Experience

Internship


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Skills

Math
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Personality Traits

Curious
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Earnings

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, animal scientists, a type of agricultural scientist, earned median annual earnings of $58,380 in 2018, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $36,270 and the highest 10 percent earning $113,430. Soil and plant scientists earned an average of $63,950 per year, with a range of $38,570 to $115,400. Food scientists and technologists had median annu...

Work Environment

Agricultural scientists work regular hours, although researchers often choose to work longer when their experiments have reached critical points. Competition in the research field may be stiff, causing a certain amount of stress.

Agricultural scientists generally work in offices, laboratories, or classrooms where the environment is clean, healthy, and safe. Some agricultural scientists, ...

Outlook

Employment for agricultural scientists is expected to grow faster than the average for all careers through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The fields of biotechnology, genetics, nanotechnology, and sustainable agriculture may hold the best opportunities for agricultural scientists. New developments, such as methods of processing corn for use in medicines, will alter the marketp...