Also called: Plant Doctor
Diagnoses and fights diseases that kill crops, forests, and gardens.
Examines diseased leaves sent in by farmers, grows the fungus causing the problem, and tests which treatments stop it.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in plant pathology for research; master's for extension/diagnostic roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Microbiology.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). Estimate.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Phone apps and AI diagnose many leaf diseases from photos; culturing pathogens and testing treatments stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1013.
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.