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Plant Breeder Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ball Horticultural Company

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA · On-site

$120K/yr

Plant Breeder I / II - PanAmerican Seed Location: Guadalupe, California - R&D Breeding Help shape the next generation of ornamental varieties. PanAmerican Seed, a division of Ball Horticulture ...

BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA · On-site

$83K - $120K/yr

Plant Breeder I / II - PanAmerican Seed Location: Guadalupe, California - R&D Breeding Help shape the next generation of ornamental varieties. PanAmerican Seed, a division of Ball Horticulture ...

BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA

$83K - $120K/yr

Description Plant Breeder I / II - PanAmerican Seed Location: Guadalupe, California - R&D Breeding Help shape the next generation of ornamental varieties. PanAmerican Seed, a division of Ball ...

BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY

Plant Breeder

Guadalupe, CA

$83K - $120K/yr

Description Plant Breeder I / II - PanAmerican Seed Location: Guadalupe, California - R&D Breeding Help shape the next generation of ornamental varieties. PanAmerican Seed, a division of Ball ...

Conagra Brands

Assistant Plant Breeder

Brookston, IN · On-site

$26.97/hr

Assistant Plant Breeder (Popcorn) Location: Brookston, IN Job Summary: Reporting to the Popcorn Breeding leadership team, you will support the development of new popcorn inbreds and hybrids through ...

Enza Zaden

Breeder

Myakka City, FL · On-site

$77K - $92K/yr

Carry out breeding program activities, including making critical plant and line selections at key stages of the breeding cycle to ensure genetic advancement and program success. * Maintain detailed ...

Limagrain

Global Breeding Director (M/F)

Davis, CA · On-site

$180 - $280/hr

Promote quality standards and Plant Health, Safety & Environmental practices at all R&D sites. Your profile What you bring * Master's degree or higher in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a related life ...

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$41.5K

$99.9K

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How much do plant breeder jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for plant breeder in the United States is $99,873.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a plant breeder?

To thrive as a Plant Breeder, you need a solid background in plant biology, genetics, and agronomy, typically supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master's degree. Experience with laboratory equipment, field research tools, and breeding database software, as well as familiarity with molecular marker techniques, is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are critical soft skills in this field. These competencies ensure the successful development of improved plant varieties and efficient collaboration within multidisciplinary research teams.

What does a plant breeder do?

A Plant Breeder develops new plant varieties with improved traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, and better adaptability to environmental conditions. They use traditional breeding techniques, genetic modification, and biotechnology to enhance plant characteristics. Their work involves research, field trials, data analysis, and collaboration with farmers and agricultural scientists. Plant Breeders play a crucial role in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture.

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Plant Breeder jobs near you
Infographic showing various Plant Breeder job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,873 per year, or $48 per hour.

Plant Breeder

Ball Horticultural Company

Guadalupe, CA • On-site

$120K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 hours ago

Job description

Plant Breeder I / II - PanAmerican Seed
Location: Guadalupe, California - R&D Breeding
Help shape the next generation of ornamental varieties.
PanAmerican Seed, a division of Ball Horticulture Company is seeking a curious, and innovative Plant Breeder to join our R&D Breeding team in Guadalupe, California. Reporting to the North American Breeding Director, this position offers the opportunity to develop commercially successful seed-propagated ornamental varieties while working alongside an experienced global breeding organization.
At PanAmerican Seed, breeders work across a diverse portfolio of globally recognized ornamental crops and collaborate closely with experts in pathology, molecular breeding, breeding technology, production, and product management. We invest in modern breeding tools and encourage curiosity, innovation, and continuous improvement to help our breeders deliver meaningful impact. This opportunity creates ownership of breeding projects while collaborating with a global R&D team.
Guadalupe is located on California's beautiful Central Coast, offering a mild year-round climate with easy access to beaches, hiking, mountain biking, and California wine country.
Key Responsibilities
• Independently manage assigned breeding projects and breeding activities across multiple seasons.
• Advance breeding populations through crossing, selection, trial evaluation, and data-driven decision making.
• Develop improved varieties/hybrids that meet breeding objectives for quality, performance, and commercial success.
• Contribute to breeding strategy and project objectives in partnership with the North American Breeding Director and Product Management.
• Collaborate closely with Production, Supply Chain, Pathology, Product Management, and other R&D teams to support successful product development and reliable seed production.
• Share technical knowledge with colleagues and support the development of junior team members.
• Represent breeding during internal meetings, grower visits, trials, and industry interactions.
• Travel approximately 25% domestically and internationally to evaluate trials, collaborate with colleagues, and monitor industry trends.
What Success Looks Like
Successful candidates will:
• Deliver breeding progress that supports PanAmerican Seed's product pipeline and long term business objectives
• Make sound, data-driven breeding decisions.
• Build strong partnerships across R&D and commercial teams.
• Continuously improve breeding methods and workflows.
• Demonstrate scientific curiosity, ownership, and a commitment to continuous learning.
Requirements
Required
  • Ph.D., M.S., or B.S. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Horticulture, Plant Sciences, or a related discipline.
  • Strong understanding of plant breeding principles, and the application modern breeding tools and technologies to improve breeding outcomes.
  • Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively across scientific disciplines and functional teams.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred
• Experience breeding seed-propagated ornamental crops.
• Experience working in commercial product development
Salary Description
$83,0000 to $120,000 a year

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