A plant pathologist works in laboratories and in the field where they study conditions that can influence plant health. Soil and plant scientists, which can include plant pathologists, make $63,200 annually. A faster than average 7% job growth is expected through 2029.
Essential Information
Plant pathologists study plants through basic and applied research. Their studies include environmental factors, plant diseases, and nutrition. They work in a variety of fields from consulting to academia, with the general aim of improving plant health. Their work may be conducted in labs or outside, in the plants' natural habitats.
| Required Education | Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 7% for soil and plant scientists |
| Median Annual Salary (2019)* | $63,200 for soil and plant scientists |
Sources: * U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Job Description for Plant Pathologists
Afflicted with such pathogens as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, plants contract diseases that plant pathologists work to uncover and ultimately, cure. Plant pathologists continually develop ways to combat the diseases that plants face. They research plants from top to bottom, including their growing environment, such as the weather and soil around them. Plant pathologists might change a plant's surroundings or genetics in order to allow a plant to thrive, grow, and remain disease-free.
Plant Pathologist Job Duties
Plant pathologists work in laboratories with technologically advanced equipment and scientific devices such as microscopes. From microorganisms to molecules, plants get scrutinized and analyzed. Outside of the lab, plant pathologists study their subjects in natural environments with instruments that trap spores, as all factors must be studied in attempting to enhance a plant's health.
They commonly work with plant breeders, farmers, entomologists, and botanists in the farms and gardens where plants grow. Additionally, plant pathologists engage with biological scientists and engineers to create safer living arrangements to allow plants to reach their maximum growth and yield potential.
Salary Information for Plant Pathologists
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), soil and plant scientists in general earned a median annual salary of $63,200 in May 2019. BLS figures indicated most of these professionals earned between $38,410 and $111,480 annually that year.
Plant Pathologist Career Outlook
Plant pathologists may be employed in many industries, including academic institutions, non-profit organizations, private consulting firms and government agencies. They can work as teachers, researchers, plant specialists and plant health managers. According to the BLS, soil and plant scientists could expect a 7% job growth rate from 2019 to 2029, which is a little above average.
Conducting experiments and studying plants is the job of a plant pathologist. They can work in several industries, typically with a team of agricultural and plant experts, to reduce and eliminate plant disease. Steady job growth is projected in this field, and the median salary was around $63,000 in 2019.
