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.
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)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
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/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Soil and Plant Scientists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
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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
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
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.
Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
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.
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.
Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.
Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.
Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the effects of alternative practices on the environment.
Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.
Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.
Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.
Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.
Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.
Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.
Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.
Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.
Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.
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.
Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.
Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.
Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.
Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.
Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.
Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in plant growth and plant responses to the environment.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops. | 63.75Observed | 40.5% | 6% | |
| Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests. | 61.45Observed | 51.6% | 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. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 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. | 63.52Observed | 40.4% | 5% | |
| Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 4% | |
| Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products. | 58.63Observed | 50.5% | 4% | |
| Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the effects of alternative practices on the environment. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 4% | |
| Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 4% | |
| Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders. | 55.8Observed | 49.3% | 3% | |
| Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 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. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 3% | |
| Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 3% | |
| Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 2% | |
| Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 3% | |
| Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning. | 30Estimated | 21.0% | 3% | |
| Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 2% | |
| Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 2% | |
| Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in plant growth and plant responses to the environment. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 5% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 32.3%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
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
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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
overall change