Agriculture & Environment

Agricultural Scientist Salary

Agricultural scientists research ways to improve crop production, livestock management, and agricultural sustainability.

Median Salary
$74,160
Mean Salary
$79,800
Total Employed
38,400
Job Growth
+6%

Agricultural Scientist Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level agricultural scientists earn around $48,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $76,000. Senior-level agricultural scientists can earn $115,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$48,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$76,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$115,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for agricultural scientists varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $44,000, while the top 10% earn $122,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $44,000
25th Percentile $56,000
50th Percentile (Median) $74,160
75th Percentile $98,000
90th Percentile $122,000

Agricultural Scientist Salary by State

Agricultural Scientist salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $126,072, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $61,553.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $126,072 Details →
#2 California $102,341 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $100,116 Details →
#4 Alaska $91,958 Details →
#5 New York $90,475 Details →
#6 New Jersey $85,284 Details →
#7 Washington $85,284 Details →
#8 Connecticut $83,059 Details →
#9 Maryland $81,576 Details →
#10 Oregon $81,576 Details →
#11 Colorado $77,868 Details →
#12 New Hampshire $77,868 Details →
#13 Rhode Island $77,868 Details →
#14 Virginia $77,126 Details →
#15 Delaware $74,902 Details →
#16 Vermont $74,902 Details →
#17 Florida $72,677 Details →
#18 Maine $72,677 Details →
#19 Arizona $71,935 Details →
#20 Minnesota $71,935 Details →
#21 Nevada $71,935 Details →
#22 Utah $71,935 Details →
#23 Pennsylvania $71,194 Details →
#24 Illinois $70,452 Details →
#25 Montana $70,452 Details →
#26 Idaho $69,710 Details →
#27 Georgia $68,969 Details →
#28 New Mexico $68,969 Details →
#29 North Carolina $68,227 Details →
#30 Texas $68,227 Details →
#31 Wisconsin $68,227 Details →
#32 Wyoming $68,227 Details →
#33 Louisiana $67,486 Details →
#34 Indiana $66,744 Details →
#35 Michigan $66,744 Details →
#36 Nebraska $66,744 Details →
#37 North Dakota $66,744 Details →
#38 Ohio $66,744 Details →
#39 Iowa $66,002 Details →
#40 South Carolina $66,002 Details →
#41 Tennessee $66,002 Details →
#42 Missouri $65,261 Details →
#43 South Dakota $65,261 Details →
#44 Alabama $64,519 Details →
#45 Kansas $64,519 Details →
#46 Kentucky $64,519 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $63,778 Details →
#48 Arkansas $62,294 Details →
#49 West Virginia $62,294 Details →
#50 Mississippi $61,553 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Research crop and livestock improvement methods
  • Conduct field experiments
  • Analyze soil and plant samples
  • Develop sustainable farming practices
  • Publish research findings

Top Skills

Agronomy Research Methods Data Analysis Soil Science Genetics Scientific Writing

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Job Outlook

Faster than average — projected 6% growth over the next decade