Also called: Soil Lab Technician, Agricultural Lab Technician
Grinds, measures and tests thousands of soil samples from farms so farmers know how much fertilizer and lime to use.
Boxes of soil from farms across three states arrive every morning. You dry and grind them, weigh tiny scoops into trays and run them through machines that measure phosphorus, potassium and pH. By afternoon the results go to farmers and their agronomists.
Estimated from BLS agricultural technicians and lab postings; spring and fall are busiest.
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 degree in agriculture or lab science, or a bachelor's for higher roles.
Ways in: 2-year college, 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Agriculture, Soil Science, Chemistry, Lab Technology.
Growing about average. Steady demand from farms; busy seasons bring overtime.
Medium risk for 10 years. Lab robots and sensors automate tests, but technicians still prepare samples and catch errors.
Classes: Chemistry, Biology, Ag science.
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.