Jobs Similar to Soil and Plant Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to soil and plant scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Animal Scientists, Conservation Scientists and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers).
Soil and Plant Scientists: $78,850 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Soil and Plant Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 83% | $68,940−13% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 83% | $73,010−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 81% | $101,920+29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 81% | $87,990+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Hydrologists | 81% | $96,600+23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 81% | $82,220+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 80% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Food Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 80% | $88,720+13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Agricultural Engineers | 79% | $98,590+25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 79% | $76,780−3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Industrial Ecologists | 79% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 12 | BiologistsSame group | 79% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 78% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Water Resource Specialists | 78% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 78% | $55,090−30% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 77% | $99,070+26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Materials Scientists | 77% | $117,790+49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Range ManagersSame group | 77% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 77% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Environmental Engineers | 77% | $107,110+36% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Animal Scientists
83% similar · $68,940 (−13%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Conservation Scientists
83% similar · $73,010 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
81% similar · $101,920 (+29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Microbiologists
81% similar · $87,990 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Hydrologists
81% similar · $96,600 (+23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
81% similar · $82,220 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Environmental Restoration Planners
80% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 8Food Scientists and Technologists
80% similar · $88,720 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Agricultural Engineers
79% similar · $98,590 (+25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
79% similar · $76,780 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Industrial Ecologists
79% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 12Biologists
79% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
78% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Water Resource Specialists
78% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
78% similar · $55,090 (−30%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Atmospheric and Space Scientists
77% similar · $99,070 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Materials Scientists
77% similar · $117,790 (+49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Range Managers
77% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Molecular and Cellular Biologists
77% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Environmental Engineers
77% similar · $107,110 (+36%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than soil and plant scientists.
- Materials Scientists77% similar · $117,790 (+49%)
- Environmental Engineers77% similar · $107,110 (+36%)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers81% similar · $101,920 (+29%)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists77% similar · $99,070 (+26%)
- Agricultural Engineers79% similar · $98,590 (+25%)
- Hydrologists81% similar · $96,600 (+23%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Conservation Scientists83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Microbiologists81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Hydrologists81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Food Scientists and Technologists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for soil and plant scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where soil and plant scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Industrial Ecologists (89)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (84)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (80)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (79)
- Agricultural Engineers (78)
- Hydrologists (78)
- Farm and Home Management Educators (75)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (73)
- Nanosystems Engineers (73)
- Microsystems Engineers (72)
Questions about jobs like soil and plant scientists
What jobs are most similar to soil and plant scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Animal Scientists (83% similar), Conservation Scientists (83% similar), Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) (81% similar), Microbiologists (81% similar) and Hydrologists (81% similar).
Which jobs like soil and plant scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Materials Scientists ($117,790, +49%; usually a bachelor's degree), Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +36%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) ($101,920, +29%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with soil and plant scientists ($78,850). Without more preparation than soil and plant scientists usually need: Materials Scientists, Environmental Engineers and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.