Agricultural Scientists

Employment for agricultural scientists is expected to grow faster than the average for all careers through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The fields of biotechnology, genetics, nanotechnology, and sustainable agriculture may hold the best opportunities for agricultural scientists. New developments, such as methods of processing corn for use in medicines, will alter the marketplace. Scientists will also be actively involved in improving both the environmental impact of farming and crop yields, as they focus on methods of decontaminating soil, protecting groundwater, crop rotation, and other efforts of conservation. Scientists will also have the challenge of promoting these new methods to farmers. Employment growth is expected to be strongest in the private sector.