Soil Sciences Degree
Students study soil chemistry, physics, biology, classification, and management practices that support crop production and environmental conservation. Graduates typically pursue careers in soil conservation, environmental consulting, agricultural advising, and land-use planning. This specialized field is increasingly important as climate change and food security drive demand for soil expertise.
What Soil Sciences Graduates Do
Your career will likely begin with your hands in the dirt. As an agricultural technician, you’ll spend your days in the field or lab, collecting soil and water samples, running chemical analyses, and meticulously logging data. This groundwork prepares you to become a soil and plant scientist, where your focus shifts from data collection to interpretation. You’ll design experiments to improve crop yields, advise on sustainable land management, or even specialize as a microbiologist, studying the microscopic life that drives soil health. The path to becoming a scientist shows the most promising growth. For those who enjoy mentoring, a career as a postsecondary teacher lets you conduct research while shaping future experts.
Across these roles, AI will automate significant parts of your routine work, such as analyzing sensor data or identifying microbes from lab samples. Your job isn't disappearing, but your daily tasks will change. Success will depend on your ability to interpret AI-driven insights, solve complex environmental problems that require human judgment, and effectively communicate solutions to farmers and policymakers.
Common Career Paths
Where Soil Sciences graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 7,100 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microbiologists | 1,700 | +4.1% | 40% | |
| Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary | 800 | +4.1% | 50% | |
| Soil and plant scientists | 1,700 | +5.4% | 49% | |
| Agricultural technicians | 2,900 | +4.3% | 50% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Soil Sciences
6 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI |
52 46–53 |
$50,046/yr | 16.3x |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL |
50 44–51 |
$55,076/yr | 10.9x |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN |
49 43–50 |
$55,322/yr | 10.6x |
| 4 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
46 40–47 |
$50,770/yr | 8.8x |
| 5 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO |
43 37–44 |
$46,287/yr | 9.8x |
| 6 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK |
38 32–39 |
$43,421/yr | 9.6x |
Highest Earning Soil Sciences Programs
Schools where Soil Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $55,322/yr | 49 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $55,076/yr | 50 |
| Michigan State University | $50,770/yr | 46 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | $50,046/yr | 52 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $46,287/yr | 43 |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | $43,421/yr | 38 |
Best ROI for Soil Sciences
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Soil Sciences.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 16.3x | $50,046/yr | 52 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 10.9x | $55,076/yr | 50 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 10.6x | $55,322/yr | 49 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | 9.8x | $46,287/yr | 43 |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 9.6x | $43,421/yr | 38 |
| Michigan State University | 8.8x | $50,770/yr | 46 |
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