Career comparison
Agricultural Engineer vs. Soil and Plant Scientist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Agricultural engineers earn more at the median ($98,590 vs. $78,850), while agricultural engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Agricultural engineers design farm equipment, irrigation and systems that grow food better. Soil and plant scientists study soils and crops to help farmers grow more with less.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Agricultural Engineer | Soil and Plant Scientist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $98,590 ($47.40/hr) | $78,850 ($37.91/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,060 – $166,460 | $48,680 – $138,120 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.9% (faster than average) | +6.7% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 1,400 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 4-year degree |
| Key credential | PE license | CCA |
| Work setting | Agricultural engineers work in offices, labs and fields.. | Scientists work in fields, labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Agricultural Engineer
- Design farm machinery
- Design irrigation
- Design structures
- Develop precision ag tools
- Conserve soil and water
Soil and Plant Scientist
- Test soils
- Breed crops
- Research pests
- Advise farmers
- Run field trials
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, in-demand, working outdoors, and working with information. Both are part of the agriculture, landscaping & animal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose agricultural engineer if…
- I grew up around farms
- I like engineering
- I like field work
Choose soil and plant scientist if…
- I love plants and soil
- I like field work
- I like science
Still torn? Take the Agricultural Engineer fit quiz and the Soil and Plant Scientist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, agricultural engineer or soil and plant scientist?
Agricultural Engineers earn more at the median: $98,590 versus $78,850 for soil and plant scientists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Agricultural Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than soil and plant scientists (4-year degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects agricultural engineers to grow +6.9% from 2025–35, compared with +6.7% for soil and plant scientists.