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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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21109.03 – Soil scientists

Soil scientists conduct theoretical and applied research in soil science.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Soil scientist

Core competencies

  • Critical Thinking, Decision Making and Problem Solving to investigate problems of strip cropping, contour ploughing, terracing and other soil conservation practices to reduce soil and mineral erosion and to maintain sufficient water levels for proper irrigation
  • Evaluation and Systems Analysis to evaluate the composition of soil to determine microbe content, physical characteristics and chemical properties of soils to determine capabilities of potential growth or water absorption capacity
  • Verbal Ability to communicate research findings and convey soil-related insights to influence decisions related to land use, conservation and sustainable agricultural practices
  • Problem Identification and Inductive Reasoning to diagnose soil issues, investigate agricultural challenges related to nutrient deficiencies, erosion or salinization and make generalizations based on specific observations and experimental results
  • Attention to Detail to use precise measurements to rebuild deteriorated, overly-acidic and barren soils by stabilizing chemical compositions of nutrients and fertilizers
  • Knowledge in Geological Resources to analyze soil formation, soil health and the environmental impacts of resource extraction to make informed decisions about sustainable soil management

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Conduct research into the composition, distribution and evolution of soils.

Additional information

  • Mobility between specializations in this group may be possible with experience.
  • Mobility is possible with experience, to other fields of physical science or to management or regulatory program management.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

21 – Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

211 – Professional occupations in natural sciences

Minor group

2110 – Physical science professionals

Unit group

21109 – Other professional occupations in physical sciences

Occupational profile

21109.03 – Soil scientists

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.