AITakeover 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.

Green Enhanced SkillsHigher risk than 26% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Soil and Plant Scientists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 27/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 26% of all analyzed occupations. Of 28 analyzed tasks, 0 are highly automatable. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

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.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingWritingMonitoringSystems AnalysisTechnology Design

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.

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%

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%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 32.3%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

IntegrityAttention to DetailDependabilityAchievement/EffortInitiativeAnalytical ThinkingCooperationIndependencePersistenceAdaptability/FlexibilityInnovationLeadership

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$71,410

per year

Mean Wage

$83,040

per year

Employment

17K

workers

Wage Range

$45,320 - $131,440

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$45,320Median: $71,410$131,440
Career Planning

Explore other career paths

Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $72,860

Higher risk than 31% of other occupations

Farm and Home Management Advisors

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $58,120

Higher risk than 33% of other occupations

Microbiologists

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $87,330

Higher risk than 34% of other occupations

Biologists

30%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $93,340

Higher risk than 39% of other occupations

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $86,350

Higher risk than 48% of other occupations

Hydrologists

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $92,060

Higher risk than 50% of other occupations

Soil and Water Conservationists

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $67,950

Higher risk than 50% of other occupations

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $80,060

Higher risk than 51% of other occupations

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $100,830

Higher risk than 53% of other occupations

Food Scientists and Technologists

37%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $85,310

Higher risk than 72% of other occupations

Sales Managers

25%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 20% of other occupations

Chief Executives

26%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 23% of other occupations

General and Operations Managers

28%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 29% of other occupations

Marketing Managers

30%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 38% of other occupations

Computer and Information Systems Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 45% of other occupations

Financial Managers

Subscribed — always updated

Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Soil and Plant Scientists professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Reading Comprehension

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

  • Information Ordering

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

  • Mathematics

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

  • Mathematics

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

  • Memorization

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

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

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

  • Complex Problem Solving

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

  • Leadership

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

  • Instructing

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

  • Coordination

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

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-3.9

overall change

Checking for existing plan...