Agricultural and Food Scientists
Description OES Code: 24305
Agricultural and food scientists research problems related to agriculture, animal husbandry, and horticulture, including the development of improved methods of cultivation, the processing, handling, and storing of products, and related activities.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $16.31
25th Percentile $19.13
50th Percentile $24.62
75th Percentile $31.30

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $18.63
25th Percentile $19.29
50th Percentile $22.08
75th Percentile $35.82

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Agricultural scientists involved in management or basic research work regular hours in offices and laboratories. The work environment for those engaged in applied research or product development varies, depending on the discipline of agricultural science and on the type of employer. For example, food scientists in private industry may work in test kitchens while investigating new processing techniques. Animal scientists working for Federal, State, or university research stations may spend part of their time at dairies, farrowing houses, feedlots, or farm animal facilities or outdoors conducting research associated with livestock. Soil and crop scientists also spend time outdoors conducting research on farms and agricultural research stations. Entomologists work in laboratories, insectories, or agricultural research stations, and may also spend time outdoors studying or collecting insects in their natural habitat.

Advancement
Agricultural scientists who have advanced degrees usually begin in research or teaching. With experience, they may advance to jobs such as supervisors of research programs or managers of other agriculture-related activities.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Information on careers in agricultural science is available from:
* American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711-1086.
* Food and Agricultural Careers for Tomorrow, Purdue University, 1140 Agricultural Administration Bldg., West Lafayette, IN 47907-1140.

For information on careers in food technology, write to:
* Institute of Food Technologists, Suite 300, 221 N. LaSalle St., Chicago IL 60601-1291.

Information on acquiring a job as an agricultural scientist with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through a telephone-based system. Consult your telephone directory under U.S. Government for a local number or call (912) 757-3000; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. The first number is not tollfree, and charges may result. Information also is available from the Internet site: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Training requirements for agricultural scientists depend on their specialty and on the type of work they perform. A bachelor’s degree in agricultural science is sufficient for some jobs in applied research or for assisting in basic research, but a master’s or doctoral degree is required for basic research. A Ph.D. in agricultural science usually is needed for college teaching and for advancement to administrative research positions. Degrees in related sciences such as biology, chemistry, or physics or in related engineering specialties also may qualify persons for some agricultural science jobs.

All States have a land-grant college that offers agricultural science degrees. Many other colleges and universities also offer agricultural science degrees or some agricultural science courses. However, not every school offers all specialties. A typical undergraduate agricultural science curriculum includes communications, economics, business, and physical and life sciences courses, in addition to a wide variety of technical agricultural science courses. For prospective animal scientists, these technical agricultural science courses might include animal breeding, reproductive physiology, nutrition, and meats and muscle biology.

Skills & Other Requirements
Agricultural and food scientists should be able to work independently or as part of a team and be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Most of these scientists also need an understanding of basic business principles, and the ability to apply basic statistical techniques. Employers increasingly prefer job applicants who are able to apply computer skills to determine solutions to problems, to collect and analyze data, and for the control of processes.

References
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

Related Occupations: Biological Scientists, Veterinarians

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)