Takeover Tracker
27%medium risk

Soil and Plant Scientists

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.

Higher risk than 26% of occupations
Checking for existing plan...

How AI Impacts Each Task

28 tasks analyzed

Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.

Risk: 40.5%AI: 63.75ObservedTime: 6%

Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.

Risk: 51.6%AI: 61.45ObservedTime: 5%

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.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 5%

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.

Risk: 40.4%AI: 63.52ObservedTime: 5%

Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 4%

Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 4%

Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 4%

Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.

Risk: 50.5%AI: 58.63ObservedTime: 4%

Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the effects of alternative practices on the environment.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 4%

Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.

Risk: 43.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 4%

Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 4%

Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.

Risk: 49.3%AI: 55.8ObservedTime: 3%

Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 4%

Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 4%

Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 3%

Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.

Risk: 25.0%AI: 25EstimatedTime: 3%

Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 3%

Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 3%

Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 2%

Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 3%

Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 3%

Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.

Risk: 21.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 3%

Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 3%

Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 2%

Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 2%

Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in plant growth and plant responses to the environment.

Risk: 39.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 5%

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Soil and Plant Scientists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-7.7pt risk+$4K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Coursera

Creative Writing Specialization

by Wesleyan University

~8 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Writing

Estimated Impact

-5.6pt risk+$4K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.8pt risk+$4K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

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Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-3.9

overall change

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree15%
Doctoral/Professional Degree26%
Level 1144%
Level 1215%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None4%
Up to 1 month4%
6 months - 1 year15%
1-2 years26%
2-4 years33%
4-6 years11%
Over 10 years7%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None7%
Up to 1 month22%
1-3 months7%
6 months - 1 year19%
1-2 years37%
2-4 years4%
4-6 years4%

Related News

Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

2 articles

Bayer Using AI to Develop New Drugs and Herbicide

CEO Bill Anderson says "We used to have these banks of chemicals - thousands, tens of thousands of chemical entities - and we would screen them against targets. But now we're basically doing this with computational chemistry, computational biology."

Semafor TechApr 15

How Syngenta's AI Push is Reshaping Agricultural Jobs

Syngenta's digital chief details the integration of AI and data platforms across their farming operations. The shift requires a new blend of agronomy expertise and digital literacy from the agricultural workforce.

Forbes AIApr 13

Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis