Agronomist
Agriculture & Farming
A program that focuses on the chemical, physical, and biological relationships of crops and the soils nurturing them.
What Agronomists Do
A program that focuses on the chemical, physical, and biological relationships of crops and the soils nurturing them.
Common Tasks
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- 1Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 2Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- 3Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- 4Supervise laboratory sessions and field work and coordinate laboratory operations.
- 5Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
What You'll Learn
Types of Agronomists
Work Environment
Locations
- • Farms and ranches
- • Agricultural research labs and field trial sites
- • Seed and fertilizer company offices and territories
- • Greenhouses and nurseries
- • University extension offices
Schedule
Most roles are full-time, with more variable hours during planting, scouting, and harvest seasons and generally steadier schedules in labs or teaching positions.
Physical Demands
Work often mixes desk/lab time with field visits that involve walking, standing, and handling equipment or samples. Physical demands are usually moderate, but field technician roles can require frequent lifting, repetitive tasks, and working outdoors in heat, cold, or wet conditions.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 963,900 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand can rise as farms and agribusinesses adopt precision agriculture and need experts to improve yields while reducing fertilizer, water use, and runoff. Climate variability and soil health concerns also increase the need for crop, nutrient, and pest management expertise.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Work that directly impacts food production and sustainability
- • Good pay potential in management, consulting, or specialized roles
- • Variety of work across field, lab, and office settings
- • Opportunities in research, industry, and public service (extension)
- • Skills transfer across crops, regions, and agribusiness sectors
Cons
- • Seasonal peaks can mean long or irregular hours
- • Outdoor work in challenging weather and exposure to dust/chemicals
- • Some roles require extensive travel to farms and trial sites
- • Research and extension jobs can depend on grant or public funding
- • Results can be affected by factors outside your control (drought, pests, market swings)
Common Questions About the Agronomist Trade
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