Also called: Field Scout, IPM Scout
Walks fields every week looking for weeds, insects, and diseases, and reports problems to farmers and agronomists.
You lace up boots, grab a sweep net and tablet, and walk zig-zag paths through cornfields, counting bugs and checking leaves. It's a classic summer job for ag students, with lots of time outside learning plants up close.
Usually seasonal hourly pay; a great first step toward agronomy.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Often a summer job for high school or college students; training provided.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Agronomy, Agricultural Science.
Growing about average. No BLS category.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Drones and AI imagery already flag weeds and pests; walking fields for ground truth stays a summer job, but far fewer by 2036.
Age 16+. One way to start: Ask your county extension office, co-op or seed dealer about summer crop scouting jobs (often hire high schoolers)
Classes: Biology, Agriculture science CTE.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.