Agricultural Research Scientist

An Agricultural Research Scientist conducts empirical investigations into crop production, livestock management, soil health, pest control, and sustainable farming practices in Australian agricultural settings. They design and execute field trials, laboratory experiments, and observational studies to develop evidence-based solutions for productivity, environmental management, and biosecurity challenges. Their work informs industry best practice, regulatory policy, and commercial product development across broadacre, intensive, and specialty agriculture sectors.

Design randomised controlled field trials and laboratory experiments to test agronomic interventions, crop varieties, or livestock management practices. Conduct soil analysis using physical, chemical, and biological testing methods to assess soil health and nutrient status. Manage experimental plots and livestock cohorts, applying treatments and recording phenotypic data over growing seasons or production cycles. Operate laboratory equipment including spectrophotometers, chromatography systems, and DNA sequencers to analyse plant tissue, soil samples, and biological specimens. Collect and analyse meteorological data, soil moisture profiles, and seasonal variation to understand environmental drivers of agricultural performance. Evaluate pest, disease, and weed populations using field scouting protocols and diagnostic techniques to assess control strategy efficacy. Conduct genetic analysis and plant breeding trials to identify and propagate agronomically superior traits and cultivars. Analyse experimental data using statistical software (SAS, R, Python) to test hypotheses and report effect sizes and confidence intervals.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

Your career prospects depend heavily on securing research grants and government funding, which is competitive and uncertain. Many positions are fixed-term contracts tied to specific projects, meaning job security is poor. You'll spend years in a lab or paddock to publish results that take time to influence actual farming practice. Pay rarely reaches what you'd earn in engineering or IT with the same qualifications.

Some regional opportunities exist near intensive farming zones, but these are scarce. Remote work is uncommon due to fieldwork demands.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2341, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Goal Setting and Planningcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Digital Literacy
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Policy and Procedure Adherence
• Process Documentation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Reporting and Analytics
• Verbal Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026