Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Soil scientist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical soil scientist skills. We ranked the top skills for soil scientists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.4% of soil scientist resumes contained gps as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a soil scientist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 soil scientist skills for your resume and career

1. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how soil scientists use gps:

Accumulated GPS points for soil monitoring and contamination prevention.
Performed underground utility locating and GPS mapping.

2. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how soil scientists use data collection:

Perform field work including on-lot (septic) sewage disposal system inspections, field data collection, and site investigations.
Conduct quality assurance testing for image-to-image georeferencing registration of imagery, location certification, and data collection.

3. GIS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing and presenting various forms of geographic data.

Here's how soil scientists use gis:

Applied remote sensing techniques and geographic information system (GIS) for land use studies and environmental management plans.
Conducted independent Geographic Information System (GIS) - based project in QA/QC of soil and topographic maps.

4. EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a US-based organization established to sustain and improve the environmental and human health standards across the United States. EPA was established by US President Richard Nixon by executive order in December 1970. The EPA formulates laws and releases guidelines to promote the health of individuals and the ecosystem.

Here's how soil scientists use epa:

Prepared thousands of reports and applications for State and Federal (EPA) Government.
Assisted in development of work plans and provided assistance to EPA for subsequent remediation of contaminated sites and abandoned industrial facilities.

5. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is the non-financial assistance provided by local or international specialists. The purpose of technical assistance is to maximize the project's implementation and quality of the final product. Technical assistance consists of sharing information, the transmission of working knowledge, and other transfer of technical data which would aid the administration, management team and help build the project. The technical assistance focuses on particular needs identified by the beneficiary country and is delivered in the form of missions.

Here's how soil scientists use technical assistance:

Identified problems/potential hazards and advised land users on conservation plans, alternative solutions, arid provided technical assistance for plan implementation.

6. Soil Properties

Here's how soil scientists use soil properties:

Surveyed, described and classified soil properties in a remote field environment.
Evaluate soil properties and characteristics.

Choose from 10+ customizable soil scientist resume templates

Build a professional soil scientist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your soil scientist resume.

7. NPDES

Here's how soil scientists use npdes:

Developed mitigation monitoring programs and cumulative/significant impact summaries, especially related to NPDES programs.
Produced NPDES renewal application package.

8. Environmental Policy

Environmental policy refers to the practice of analyzing how humans affect the environment and the laws and regulations that attempt to reduce the harmful effects. These policies and practices are typically enforced by government agencies or larger corporations, which may focus on cleaner water sources, less air pollution, or other areas.

Here's how soil scientists use environmental policy:

Reviewed environmental documents and produced feasible action plans to ensure company compliance with pertinent legislation, regulation, and environmental policy.
Produced data and documents needed to assist federal agencies in meeting National Environmental Policy Act compliance.

9. Laboratory Analysis

Here's how soil scientists use laboratory analysis:

Performed laboratory analysis of soil and vegetation nutrient content.
Determined laboratory analysis parameters for characterization and evaluated data reports.

10. Wetland Delineations

Here's how soil scientists use wetland delineations:

Performed wetland delineations and developed mitigation plans for construction projects.
Conducted wetland delineations and stream classification for State and Federal permit requests and applications for the alteration of water resources.

11. Statistical Analysis

Here's how soil scientists use statistical analysis:

Project Management and Statistical Analysis: Agricultural Research Manager (ARM), R, R studio and SAS.
Co-developed a published method for statistical analysis of process characterization data and determination of validation acceptance criteria based on tolerance intervals.

12. Research Projects

Here's how soil scientists use research projects:

Assisted in managing contract research projects to determine efficacy of new agricultural products.
Conducted special research projects using large amounts of original field data.

13. Geotechnical

Here's how soil scientists use geotechnical:

Assisted geotechnical engineers with drilling projects such as asphalt coring, soil sampling and compaction tests.
Project manager for environmental assessments, geotechnical soils inspection, and materials testing contracts.

14. Water Samples

Here's how soil scientists use water samples:

Collect water samples from commercial properties to analyze attenuation of contaminates.
Developed sampling programs for portable automatic water samplers.

15. Forests

Here's how soil scientists use forests:

Advised Forest Service personnel of optimal locations/sites for development and excavation that could save significant time and money for projects.
Proposed, designed, implemented innovative protocol for forest soil disturbance monitoring that increased efficiency and legal defensibility.

5 Soil Scientist resume examples

Build a professional soil scientist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your soil scientist resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Soil Scientists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soil scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.

Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University

The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.

Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""

*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government

Do you want to know more?

List of soil scientist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a soil scientist resume and required skills for a soil scientist to have include:

GPS
Data Collection
GIS
EPA
Technical Assistance
Soil Properties
NPDES
Environmental Policy

Laboratory Analysis
Wetland Delineations
Statistical Analysis
Research Projects
Geotechnical
Water Samples
Forests
R

Soil Types
Regulatory Agencies
Soil Data
Environmental Assessments
Remote Sensing
Autocad
Sops

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Soil Scientist
Soil Scientist Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs