Also called: Seed Technologist, Seed Lab Technician
Tests seeds in a lab to make sure they'll sprout, are the right variety, and are free of weed seeds.
You count out hundreds of seeds onto damp paper, put them in germination chambers, and check days later how many sprouted. You examine seeds under magnifiers to spot weed seeds the size of a grain of sand. Your results decide whether a seed lot can be sold.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate or bachelor's in a plant science; registered seed analyst certification takes study and exams.
Ways in: 2-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Plant Science, Agronomy, Biology.
Growing about average. Small, specialized field.
Medium risk for 10 years. Machine vision and DNA tests automate purity and variety checks; certified analysts still run germination tests and sign reports.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4012.
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.