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The differences between agronomists and soil scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an agronomist and a soil scientist. Additionally, a soil scientist has an average salary of $91,463, which is higher than the $51,288 average annual salary of an agronomist.
The top three skills for an agronomist include harvest, field testing and technical support. The most important skills for a soil scientist are GPS, data collection, and GIS.
| Agronomist | Soil Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,288 | $91,463 |
| Hourly rate | $24.66 | $43.97 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 208 | 46,471 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Agronomists are professionals who are experts in finding ways to maximize crop production from a given acreage of soil. These agronomists must maintain a deep understanding of soil productivity principles by performing experiments to determine plant nutrients and soil health. They must collaborate with farmers and crop researchers to assess the crop production of the farm and conduct a detailed analysis of crop data. Agronomists must also develop methods to protect crops from diseases, weeds, pests, and harsh climate change.
A soil scientist analyzes soil structures. They research soil's chemical properties, microorganism content, and physical composition. They provide advice on fertilizers, pesticides, and chemical treatments. They also provide advice on the crops best suited for a given soil type.
Agronomists and soil scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Agronomist | Soil Scientist | |
| Average salary | $51,288 | $91,463 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $104,000 | Between $60,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | East Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Bayer | BASF |
| Best paying industry | Government | Agriculture |
There are a few differences between an agronomist and a soil scientist in terms of educational background:
| Agronomist | Soil Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Plant Sciences | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between agronomists' and soil scientists' demographics:
| Agronomist | Soil Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% | Male, 70.6% Female, 29.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 12.1% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 19% | 19% |