How To Become An Agronomist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an agronomist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

John Reganold

Agronomy is the study of crop development and soil management, and an agronomist is a scientist who works to improve farm quality and crop efficiency. These professionals meet with farmers to discuss farm improvements, collaborate with agricultural researchers, conduct research on crops, and helo to solve problems related to planting, harvesting, and distribution. Agronomists also determine methods to protect plants from detrimental weather or climate conditions, as well as develop methods for conserving and recycling water and other resources.

Most agronomists have a bachelor's degree in agriculture from an accredited college or university or have training in a related field. Some agronomists who specialize in research and development typically hold a master's degree. These individuals should also possess strong research, analytical and scientific skills, as well as being proficient in computers and related technologies.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, agronomists can make up to $80,000 annually, and the job market is expected to grow modestly by 2% in the next 10 years.

What's a day at work look like for an Agronomist?

John Reganold

Professor, Washington State University

In my fields of Soil Science and Organic & Sustainable Agriculture, which can have both an outdoor (field-based) and office component, probably a week might look like 4 x 10-hour days, with at least one to two days being outdoors with farmers, foresters, city planners, and others.

ScoreAgronomistUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,288

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.25%

Asian 9.33%

Black or African American 4.34%

Hispanic or Latino 9.49%

Unknown 2.76%

White 73.83%

Gender

female 16.44%

male 83.56%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.1

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an agronomist

Explore agronomist education requirements

Most common agronomist degrees

Bachelor's

68.8 %

Master's

14.9 %

Associate

10.3 %

Start to develop specific agronomist skills

Skills	Percentages
Harvest	30.85%
Field Testing	15.51%
Technical Support	12.26%
Agronomy	11.58%
PowerPoint	8.19%

Complete relevant agronomist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New agronomists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an agronomist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real agronomist resumes.

Research agronomist duties and responsibilities

Lead a 4 to 8 man teams (depending on location) in construction of greenhouse and irrigation systems.
Lead all agronomy relate functions including fertility management, irrigation.
Perform routine and recurring techniques using a variety of specialize equipment such as autoclaves, microscopes, pipettes, and centrifuges.
Pass the Iowa CCA exam.

Prepare your agronomist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your agronomist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an agronomist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Agronomist Resume templates

Build a professional Agronomist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Agronomist resume.

Apply for agronomist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an agronomist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do agronomists rate their job?