Soil scientists?

[ashes]

I am just curious if there are any soils guys on this board?

If there are I was hoping that you guys could answer a few questions for me.
I realize that soils is a big part of many professional disciplines, but ties in well with forestry in different ways. It is something that has always interested me and I am just curious what types of jobs people go on to work with a degree in soils?

I attend HSU (Humboldt State University) as a forestry major and my area of focus is in soils. That being said, I have only taken a couple of soils classes. I know that I can likely find out information on soils jobs at school and through government job listings, but I figured that I would ask here as well.

I guess what I would like to know is what you guys do in the field, and what do you hate and love about your work. What are the limitations of that degree in terms of work. How easily employable is a soils degree?
Thanks for any information on the matter, and as usual this forum is great. So much knowledge here.

[beenthere]

Limitless, as it has anything and everything to do with growing 'anything'.  Ag soils to forest soils to urban soils to gardens and nursery's.

[RynSmith]

I am not a soil scientist but I play one on, uh...   ;D

Acutally, all of my coworkers are soil scientists so I'll add my two cents.  We are on the Soil Survey part of the NRCS so they are either actively out mapping unmapped areas (mostly just Federal lands are left unmapped at this point) or updating older surveys, some of which haven't been updated since the 50's.  The other (and much larger) part of NRCS has positions called 'Soil Conservationists' and 'Soil Con. Techs' among others, who work directly with landowners to create plans for their property, either farmed or forested.

When I worked for the USFS it seemed that most Forests had one Soil Scientist that did all of the NEPA type soils info etc. for the entire Forest, so these would be a fairly high-level position - not straight out of school.

Finally, there are many private Soil Consultants out there - it seems that wetland determinations are a lot, if not the vast majority, of their work. 

If you want to persue any of these angles I would look into professional societies.  I know both Oregon and Washington have state soil societies so I wouldn't be surprised in Cali does too...

[Ron Scott]

Ditto! to what has been stated above. Soil Scientists are employed by most land and resource management agencies to complete soil and ecological land type inventories and then to interpret the soils and ecological data to assist resource managers in making their decisions on project implementations.

I had anywhere from 1 - 3 soil scientists and a contract soil scientist working under me while I developed the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Huron-Manistee National Forests. All had at least a Masters degree or PHD however. The PHD's filled the role as Ecologists.

[ashes]

It seems that masters are taking the place a bachelors in this day and age. Hopefully when I get out of school I won't have the equivalent to a highschool degree. I already got one of those. ;D

I all seriousness, I hadn't given a lot of thought about going for a masters when I finish or not. I really would like to get done with school and get to work. 

[Shotgun]

Your job, right now, is to get an education that will carry you well in the future.  If I were doing it again, I definitely would at least get a masters degree.  If you leave with a B.S., it will be pretty difficult to go back to school, and more difficult to get back into the routine.  A spouse, and then kids will make it more difficult. The chances are great that you'll never do it at all.  It's best to bite the bullet and do it now. You'll be happy you did it.

Patience is a virtue, ashes.    ;)   It comes with maturity.

[WDH]

My Masters Degree is in Forest Soils.  While I was never a soils specialist, I was able to develop site quality estimates on new timberland that my Company was buying.  It has helped me in a number of ways in my career in Forestry.

Over the last 4 years of my career, I worked to set up Wetlands Mitigation Banks, and I worked with several soil scientists that were expert wetlands delineators.  Like RynSmith said, there are a number of companies that specialize in wetlands.  That could be a good area to look into.  I also agree with Shotgun.  A Masters Degree will enrich you, although it will probably not make you rich.

[ashes]

Thanks for the responses everyone. As I said I love coming to this site because I can get good information from people with actual experience.

I chose the soils option because seemed pretty versatile, and is something I am interested in. I have always loved geology.

WDH- I know, I know....I wasn't looking to get rich, just be able to make a comfortable wage and be in work. It is a shame to here about people that spent the money to get a degree and then had to work doing something else. I really want to do forestry or soils specific work. My family is from Indiana and my goal is to someday be back closer to them.

Anyway, again thanks for the words. It is really nice to have this as a resource to ask questions, and of course share some of my own stories. 

[BrandonTN]

Welcome, ashes! I think it's good you are focusing on soils in your forestry degree, there was a hole in my undergraduate studies for soils. My bachelor's was general forest resource management, with measurements/inventory, silviculture and a bit of forest ecology being the strengths of the program..soils was the weakest link...or, maybe it was forest economics? ;D When it comes down to it, there's only so many courses that can be taken...as long as one gets a reasonably well rounded foundation the rest will fall in to place in time with field/office experience, continued reading, etc. However, a masters degree in soil science or forest soils could open doors for forestry-related soils work...and as WDH has said, some good ol' enrichment.