Is Agricultural Chemicals A Good Career Path? (15 Jobs In Agricultural Chemicals: Best-Paying + Entry-Level)

Yes, agricultural chemicals is a good career path. If you enjoy communicating with others, using your mathematical skills, and have the ability to analyze data and make it easily consumable, this career path may be right for you. Agricultural Chemicals works to make the food industry more sustainable, secure, and productive.

Agricultural chemicals are used in agriculture to control crop-damaging pests such as rodents, insects, mites, nematodes, and fungi. They may also be used to eliminate any viruses that threaten crops. There are a wide variety of opportunities in this career field, which is a critical part of agricultural innovation.

Here are 5 great jobs in agricultural chemicals:

1. Biostatistician Jobs (Overview)

2. Bioprocess Engineer Jobs (Overview)

3. Irrigation Engineer Jobs (Overview)

4. Environmental Scientist Jobs (Overview)

5. Food Chemist Jobs (Overview)

The 8 Best-Paying Jobs in Agricultural Chemicals

Jobs in agricultural chemicals can vary in responsibilities, depending on the area of agriculture you are interested in. There are a wide variety of job options to choose from while getting paid well. Here are the eight best-paying jobs in agricultural chemicals.

1. Biostatistician

   Average Annual Salary: $81,000

   Biostatisticians are individuals who use mathematics and statistics to analyze and solve scientific problems. They may assist in developing statistical techniques and use their expertise to design studies and further analyze captured data. They are an integral part of human and animal health.

   In terms of agricultural chemicals, biostatisticians review case reports ensuring protocol objectives are met, and project standards are maintained. They may be responsible for gathering statistical samples, coordinating data collection procedures, and determining the best resources to deploy when a problem arises.

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2. Bioprocess Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: $89,000

   Bioprocessing engineers are individuals with a specialty in biological or chemical engineering. Their main focus is on the design and development of processing for agriculture, manufacturing food, nutraceutical, feed, chemicals, bioreactors, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and more.

   Bioprocessing engineers are highly skilled and trained, meaning this type of job requires a degree in electrical, industrial, or mechanical engineering. They must be highly trained in math, chemistry, biology, and engineering and enjoy research, experimentation, process troubleshooting, evaluation, and data analysis.

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3. Design Engineer or Machine Design Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   These individuals are responsible for designing major components and their subsystems as required by agricultural equipment. This includes all design specifications and any unique parts necessary. They may participate in design reviews and provide valuable insight into new proposed projects.

   This job requires a high level of collaboration with other departments, including product management, production or manufacturing, and sales and marketing departments. These individuals must be highly trained with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology.

4. Agricultural Lobbyist

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Agricultural lobbyists work to make sure government officials get the chance to hear the position of companies, organizations, industries, or even communities, including agricultural chemicals. They ensure policy development and look out for the best interests of the individuals they represent.

   Agricultural lobbyists are crucial to making sure new laws or changes to existing laws are made to improve the overall process and safety of agriculture and livestock. Agricultural lobbyists will take feedback and data from agricultural chemists to make their case to draft a new legislature or seek congressional funding.

5. Geospatial Analytics Scientist

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Geospatial analytics scientists are individuals who extract GPS data and assess it. They must integrate and manipulate the data with a variety of databases in an effort to improve the overall performance and function of various precision agriculture software platforms. This includes working closely with IT and other scientists.

   Geospatial analytics scientists utilize the latest mathematical innovations in order to propose software solutions to accommodate any emerging trends in data quantity and quality from a variety of different places, including agricultural chemicals. To become a geospatial analytics scientist, a master’s degree is required.

6. Irrigation Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: $66,000

   Irrigation engineers work on large or complicated landscape irrigation projects or with construction plans that must be approved by an engineer or landscape architect. These individuals analyze existing site surveys, conduct research, and identify potential structural and environmental problems, which include chemicals.

   Irrigation engineers are responsible for anything from analyzing, planning, designing, and implementing agricultural irrigation systems. This can include crops, canals, and even dams. Depending on the company you’re working for, you may be required to have a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree in relevant fields.

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7. Sanitary and Waste Handling Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Sanitary and waste handling engineers can also be referred to as environmental engineers. Waste management is one of the most vital processes in agriculture and ensures the safety of food and livestock, as well as the safety of public health once those products reach the end-user.

   Individuals working in this field are responsible for analyzing, planning, designing, and implementing various disposal methods as well as waste collection and any necessary recycling procedures. For this role, most need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, processing engineering, or other engineering specialties.

8. Environmental Scientist

   Average Annual Salary: $55,000

   Environmental scientists and specialists are individuals who use their knowledge of natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. Their main responsibility is to study hazards that may be detrimental to public health. They may focus on the surrounding environment, including air, land, and water.

   These individuals have a deep knowledge of natural science and work to develop restoration plans and monitor its progress. They may also work with corporations to provide guidance on minimizing their environmental impact. This job is primarily research-oriented, so you must be a research enthusiast.

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7 Entry-Level Jobs in Agricultural Chemicals

Agricultural chemicals is a highly scientific job that requires secondary schooling as well as specific credentials. However, there are opportunities at all levels in this career field. Consider these seven entry-level jobs in agricultural chemicals.

1. Food Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   A food engineer is an individual who observes and designs various components and equipment in the agricultural industry. Typically, these individuals use computer-aided design (CAD) technology and can either choose to develop and design processed foods at a plant or work towards becoming a manufacturing operations supervisor.

   Food engineering is a wide market with a variety of different career paths, especially for structural engineers. These options may include designing structures for processing and storing crops or structures for livestock. Depending on your organization, many only require a high school diploma or GED.

2. Cotton Gin and Warehouse Manager

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Agriculture encompasses a wide range of industries, and cotton gin is no different. The cotton gin and warehouse manager oversees all operations needed in the cotton ginning process. This may include coordinating logistics with the USDA Cotton Classing offices, logistics with producers, storage, and marketing of cotton bales.

   As the manager, these individuals must be highly aware of any chemicals in their products and maintain compliance with the USDA Classing offices. They must dry, clean, and remove cotton seed from lint and baling and work to safely package cotton. Additionally, they may oversee gin safety protocols according to OSHA guidelines.

3. Crop Adjuster

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Crop adjusters are individuals who investigate insurance claims made by farmers and agriculture companies. Crop adjusters work directly on the farms in the fields to start their investigations and gather relevant evidence. They’ll use this data to determine the cause, such as disease, insects, weather, and other causes.

   To become a crop adjuster, it can be helpful to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in an agricultural-related field like agronomy, plant science, soil, or crop science. However, for entry-level jobs, a high school diploma is all that’s required. You may also need a Claim Adjuster certification and a state license.

4. Feed Mill Manager

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Feed mill managers are individuals who oversee the entire production of producing animal feed. Agricultural chemicals play a massive role in this type of job, to ensure the animals are kept healthy. These individuals must ensure the quality of feed while keeping costs in check as well as the safety of mill workers.

   Many times, feed mill managers only require a few years of experience and on-the-job training. This means you could work in the feed mill industry and work your way up to a feed mill manager without the need for additional education. As with most other positions, a bachelor’s degree in agriculture can always help.

5. Apiary Worker/Beekeeper

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Those working in apiaries or as beekeepers are concerned with all aspects of bee colonies. Bees are critical to our environment, and the main function of this role is to oversee and maintain a healthy bee colony and address any diseases swiftly. These individuals are responsible for the production of honey, including pollination.

   Beekeepers must provide bees with ample food reserves, assist in building hives, collect and safely package beeswax and honey, as well as replace any combs, if necessary. This job requires a high school degree or GED, but if you wish to move into management, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree is needed.

6. Weed Scientist

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   In agriculture, weeds can be an ever-growing problem. Weed scientists who work on their own typically require extensive training, but if it’s something you’re interested in, it’s a good idea to consider working for universities that can help train you on the job as you get your education.

   Weed scientists identify weeds and learn how to combat them while determining how herbicides interact with plants. This can include conducting research to diagnose problems, offering suggestions on weed control methods, and developing weed control products.

7. Food Chemist

   Average Annual Salary: $74,000

   Food chemistry is a field in the sciences which also requires secondary education. These individuals are responsible for conducting research and analysis concerning the chemical properties of foods in order to develop new or improve existing food products. Their primary goal is to improve human and animal health through food.

   Similar to becoming a weed scientist, food chemistry fields typically offer summer job opportunities for research assistants who may be in pursuit of their degrees. There may also be opening in government agencies or the private industries which will provide you with valuable skills and networking to get your foot in the door.

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Why Choose a Career in Agricultural Chemicals?

Agriculture is an integral part of our society. This industry experiences endless growth due to our growing population. Career opportunities are plenty in this industry from food production to biotechnology and livestock science. Here are some reasons to choose a career in agricultural chemicals.

• Job satisfaction. Working in agricultural chemicals ensures the success of livestock and crops so that they can be used to feed our population. This can feel incredibly rewarding, especially for those who enjoy helping others.

• Learn deep attention to detail. Agricultural chemicals require its employees to be incredibly laser-focused on safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance. This job will familiarize you with different regulating bodies as well as how to pay close attention to detail.

• Opportunity to learn from experienced agricultural professionals. If you are interested in agriculture but aren’t sure where to start, agricultural chemicals will give you a great opportunity to work with all different kinds of professionals in this line of work.

• Recognition. Depending on your role in this industry, you may be given the opportunity to write and publish scientific papers and present your findings at conferences. This can bring you recognition and acclaim within the industry if that’s something you’re interested in.

Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Agricultural Chemicals

Because agricultural chemistry is the study of chemistry, many times, degrees in chemistry or aligned subjects are required. Agricultural chemistry is a subfield of agricultural science and investigates chemical compositions and reactions. Here are some common education requirements for this field.

• Obtaining a bachelor’s degree for a specialized diploma is required for many jobs, but not all. It’s important to understand the requirements of the job you’re applying for. However, if you’re looking to get into a specialized field, a specialized diploma is usually needed to compete.

• Land a professional internship to gain experience. A professional internship that lasts for two years or more and focuses on agricultural chemicals is typically required to be completed before working in this industry.

• Get licensed in your state. Once you’ve completed an applicable internship in your field, you’ll need to sign up for your state exam to meet the local qualifications and be included in the appropriate professional register.

What Do People Working In Agricultural Chemicals Do?

Agricultural chemists help make new or improved chemicals in order to protect crops from things like pests or rodents, boost crop yield, and keep the overall environment safe. This can also pertain to livestock on a farm. Agricultural scientists look at all parts of living things and how they interact with their surroundings.

A majority of the responsibility falls to agricultural chemists in doing basic and advanced research. They use the results to do a variety of things, including improving the environment and raising crop and animal yields. They may also help with the development of new agricultural goods while giving advice to farmers and other specialists.

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.