Soil & Plant Scientists vs Agricultural Technicians
Median pay is about $29k higher for Soil & Plant Scientists. The usual entry education is master's for Soil & Plant Scientists and associate's for Agricultural Technicians.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Soil & Plant Scientists | Agricultural Technicians |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $78,850, higher | $49,630 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $61,660, higher | $40,950 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $103,740, higher | $63,630 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +6.7% Growing fast, higher | +5.4% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 1,400 | 2,800 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Master's | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 62nd pct | 40th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Soil & Plant Scientists
- Science
Only Agricultural Technicians
- Writing
Both lean on reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, active learning, active listening.
More comparisons
Compare Soil & Plant Scientists with
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.