Soil and Plant Scientists
SOC Code: 19-1013 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Soil and Plant Scientists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $143,021 | $164,528 | $186,056 | $207,563 |
| Waco, TX | $142,792 | $164,382 | $185,973 | $207,563 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $157,685 | $174,304 | $190,944 | $207,563 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $79,622 | $122,013 | $164,403 | $206,794 |
| Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,731 | $84,094 | $117,458 | $150,821 |
| Modesto, CA | $70,179 | $94,203 | $118,248 | $142,272 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,346 | $91,749 | $113,173 | $134,576 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $69,867 | $88,754 | $107,619 | $126,506 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,526 | $83,158 | $104,770 | $126,402 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $68,474 | $87,589 | $106,704 | $125,819 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| University of California, Davis | 54 | $75,698 |
| Texas A&M AgriLife Research | 47 | $60,270 |
| Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | 38 | $63,159 |
| Donald Danforth Plant Science Center | 38 | $61,190 |
| Bayer Research and Development Services LLC | 36 | $109,560 |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | 34 | $61,473 |
| North Carolina State University | 34 | $60,175 |
| Purdue University | 32 | $57,875 |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | 32 | $58,082 |
| Oregon State University | 30 | $60,831 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 84 | $60,789 |
| 2021 | 88 | $62,429 |
| 2022 | 81 | $62,387 |
| 2023 | 177 | $70,994 |
| 2024 | 360 | $72,377 |
| 2025 | 378 | $74,739 |
| 2026 | 80 | $68,548 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Science | 4.0 | |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.5 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Biology | 4.4 |
| English Language | 4.0 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.9 |
| Chemistry | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| Education and Training | 3.4 |
| Geography | 3.4 |
| Communications and Media | 3.4 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 28.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 23.8% |
| Post-first professional | 19.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.8% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 4.8% |
| Some college | 4.8% |
| Other | 4.8% |
| Associate's degree | 4.8% |
| Master's degree | 4.8% |
Typical Tasks
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- 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.
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
- 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.
- Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.
- Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Autodesk AutoCAD ESRI ArcGIS software IBM SPSS Statistics Microsoft Access Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word R SAS 3dMapper Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator EPIC European Soil Erosion Model EUROSEM GAEA Technologies WinSieve
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