Agricultural Scientists
Overview
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 the field. They apply the results to increasing crop and animal yields and improving the environment. Some agricultural scientists plan and administer programs for testing foods, drugs, and other products. Others work in public exhibits like zoos and botanical gardens. Agricultural engineers apply engineering principles to the food and agriculture indu...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest paid 10 percent of agriculture and food scientists earned less than $46,010, and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $129,560 with median earnings of $76,400 as of May 2023. Animal scientists, a type of agricultural scientist, earned median annual earnings of $70,140 with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $46,240 and the hig...
Work Environment
Agricultural scientists work regular hours, although they often choose to work longer when their experiments reach 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, such as botanists, periodically take f...
Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for agricultural scientists is expected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all careers. Biotechnology, genetics, nanotechnology, and sustainable agriculture hold the best opportunities for agricultural scientists. New developments, such as corn processing methods for medicines, will alter the marketplace. Scient...