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Crop Breeding Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bayer

Breeding Operations Associate

Woodland, CA · On-site

$78K - $117K/yr

Schedule activities according to crop cycles, supervise contractor labor, and maintain records and supplies; Coordinate with Pipeline Enablement Associates to manage labor execution for breeding ...

Bayer

Breeding Operations Associate

Woodland, CA · On-site

$78K - $117K/yr

Schedule activities according to crop cycles, supervise contractor labor, and maintain records and supplies; * Coordinate with Pipeline Enablement Associates to manage labor execution for breeding ...

Ball Horticultural Company

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA · On-site

$110K - $145K/yr

Lead breeding programs for high-value vegetatively propagated crops from germplasm development through commercial release. * Set breeding priorities and make advancement decisions that balance ...

BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA · On-site

$110/hr

Lead breeding programs for high-value vegetatively propagated crops from germplasm development through commercial release. * Set breeding priorities and make advancement decisions that balance ...

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BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA · On-site

$110/hr

Lead breeding programs for high-value vegetatively propagated crops from germplasm development through commercial release. * Set breeding priorities and make advancement decisions that balance ...

Bayer Inc.

Breeding Operations Associate

Woodland, CA

$78K - $117K/yr

Schedule activities according to crop cycles, supervise contractor labor, and maintain records and supplies; * Coordinate with Pipeline Enablement Associates to manage labor execution for breeding ...

OFI

Crop Supervisor

Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's Degree is required, major in horticulture, entomology, plant breeding, crop science, agri-business, farm management or related field is preferred. In lieu of degree, five (5) years of ...

Enza Zaden

Breeder

Myakka City, FL

$77K - $92K/yr

Strong understanding of plant breeding principles, modern breeding techniques, and phytopathology. * Knowledge of various cultivation practices and crop production systems. * Basic to intermediate ...

Del Monte Corporation

Agronomy Specialist

Plover, WI · On-site

Variety Development and Crop Evaluation * Support short row, strip trial, and breeder trial activities for new and existing crop varieties. * Assist with trial seed procurement, planting coordination ...

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All JobsCrop Breeding Jobs

Crop Breeding information

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$25K

$69.4K

$99K

How much do crop breeding jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for crop breeding in the United States is $69,416.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $94,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Crop Breeding vs Plant Geneticist?

AspectCrop BreedingPlant Geneticist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Agriculture, Plant Science, or related fields; experience in breeding programsDegree in Genetics, Plant Biology, or related; often advanced degrees for research roles
Work EnvironmentField trials, breeding stations, laboratoriesLaboratories, research institutions, universities
Industry UsageApplied breeding programs to develop new crop varietiesResearch on genetic mechanisms, gene editing, and trait development

While both roles focus on improving plants, Crop Breeding involves practical development of new crop varieties through crossing and selection, often in field settings. Plant Geneticists conduct research on plant genes and traits, often in labs, to understand and manipulate plant genetics. Both are essential in agriculture but differ in their focus and work environment.

What are some common challenges faced by crop breeders, and how can they be addressed in the workplace?

Crop breeders often encounter challenges such as managing long breeding cycles, adapting to changing climate conditions, and integrating new technologies like genomics into traditional methods. Addressing these obstacles typically involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, continuous learning, and staying updated on the latest scientific advancements. Employers often support breeders through training, access to advanced lab facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with researchers in genetics, data science, and agronomy, which helps to streamline processes and improve outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Crop Breeder, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Crop Breeder, you need expertise in plant genetics, agronomy, and data analysis, usually supported by a degree in plant science, genetics, or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as molecular markers, gene editing technologies, and statistical software is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the development of improved crop varieties, driving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

What is crop breeding?

Crop breeding is the science and practice of improving plants to develop new varieties with desirable traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional quality. Plant breeders use techniques like cross-breeding, selection, and modern genetic tools to combine the best traits from different plants. This process helps create crops that are more productive and better suited to specific environmental conditions, benefiting both farmers and consumers.
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What job categories do people searching Crop Breeding jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Crop Breeding jobs are:
Crop Breeding jobs near you

Research Scientist, Bioinformatics & Computational Genomics

UPL Limited

College Station, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Advanta is a global seed business adapting to rapidly increasing food insecurity and climate change by providing farmers with innovation and new technologies. As part of UPL Group, Advanta aims to deliver high quality seeds with excellent agronomic practices and crop protection solutions. Advanta operates in over 80 countries under global brands of Advanta, Alta and Pacific Seeds. Advanta holds a leadership position in tropical and sub-tropical geographies in corn, grain and forage sorghum, sunflower, canola, rice, and a variety of vegetables. With over 60 years' experience in plant genetics, Advanta provides seeds technology that ensures crop performance and farmers prosperity.
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our dynamic, fast-growing, and diverse team in a high-throughput genotyping and molecular laboratory. This role supports the crop breeding program at Advanta Seeds and is ideal for recent PhD graduates who enjoy working at the lab bench, including designing, troubleshooting, and improving assays using KASP and TaqMan technologies, while also applying bioinformatics to support marker design and validation at scale. The successful candidate will begin with a strong wet-lab focus and will gradually expand their responsibilities into bioinformatics and computational analysis.
Key Responsibilities
  • Develop and support computational pipelines for genomic data processing and analysis.
  • Perform sequence analysis, read processing, and variant discovery from next-generation sequencing datasets.
  • Generate high-quality variant datasets, including VCF files, for downstream research and breeding applications.
  • Perform genome assembly analyses (including scaffold-level assembly where applicable) and compare assemblies and genomic regions across multiple reference genomes.
  • Identify SNPs and other sequence variants relevant to research and breeding objectives.
  • Ability to design primers informed by comparative genomic analysis across multiple reference genomes.
  • Support difficult marker-related problems by providing sequence-based analysis and computational interpretation.
  • Retrieve, organize, and analyze genomic and associated metadata from relational databases, including SQL-based systems.
  • Write scripts and automated workflows in Python, R, bash, or similar languages to streamline analysis and reporting.
  • Document methods, results, and workflows clearly and reproducibly, and present findings to internal teams.
  • Work independently on assigned analyses while coordinating with the manager and relevant collaborators as needed.
  • Support projects across multiple crops, with the ability to perform analysis across species.

Required Qualifications
  • PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, Genetics, Plant Biology, or a closely related field.
  • Strong computational genomics background with hands-on experience in several of the following areas:
    • variant calling
    • genome assembly
    • pipeline development
    • primer design
  • Strong programming skills, with the ability to independently develop and troubleshoot scripts and workflows in a Linux environment.
  • Proficiency in Python and at least one additional analysis language or environment such as R or bash.
  • Experience working in Linux-based computational environments.
  • Experience handling large-scale genomics datasets.
  • Experience generating, processing, and interpreting sequence-based outputs such as assemblies, alignments, and VCF files.
  • Experience comparing genomic data across multiple references, assemblies, or sequence datasets.
  • Working knowledge of molecular biology sufficient to support marker and primer design decisions, even if the role is not bench-based.
  • Familiarity with relational databases and the ability to retrieve and manipulate data using SQL.
  • Strong organizational skills, scientific judgment, and the ability to manage multiple tasks with limited supervision.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to document analyses clearly.
  • Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Advanta does not offer employment sponsorship for this position.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in plant genomics, crop genetics, or computational support of breeding programs.
  • Experience analyzing data from multiple crop species or transferring analysis strategies across species.
  • Experience with comparative genomics across diverse germplasm or multiple reference genomes.
  • Experience building reproducible workflows for routine genomic analysis.
  • Experience supporting molecular marker development through computational sequence analysis.
  • Ability to grow into an increasingly independent role and take ownership of technically demanding analyses.

We work as one team to create meaningful impact. We share common goals, support each other, and collaborate across functions to achieve the best outcomes. Our focus is on understanding our customers' needs, anticipating future challenges, and developing innovative solutions that add real value.
We are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We all play for the team and no one plays against the team. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs and on how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them.
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