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Plant Breeding Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

NCSU

Research Technician

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$17.50 - $24/hr

Essential Job Duties Join the Cotton Genetics and Breeding Lab and contribute to research that advances cotton genetics, genomics, and plant breeding. As a Research Technician, you will provide ...

Office of the Chief Economist

Agronomist

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$131K - $170K/yr

Course work in such subjects as botany, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant breeding or genetics, plant ecology, plant pathology, microbiology, agronomy, or those dealing with basic soil-water ...

Adecco

Plant Sciences Research Technician

Durham, NC · On-site

$21.09/hr

Collaborate with scientists and research staff to support breeding and agricultural research programs. * Provide occasional weekend and holiday coverage to maintain critical plant care operations.

AllSTEM Connections

Pathology Technician III

Durham, NC · On-site

$41K/yr

... for proper plant growth. Preparing for culture media. Assisting in lab, headhouse and greenhouse sanitation practices including devitalization processing of all regulated breeding materials.

NCSU

Research Associate

Raleigh, NC · On-site

Other Responsibilities Qualifications Minimum Education and Experience PhD in crops and genetic breeding Other Required Qualifications * Advanced expertise in plant molecular biology, including ...

AllSTEM Connections

Pathology Technician III

Durham, NC · On-site

$34K - $43K/yr

... for proper plant growth. Preparing for culture media. Assisting in lab, headhouse and greenhouse sanitation practices including devitalization processing of all regulated breeding materials.

Varsity Tutors

Agricultural Science Tutor

Raleigh, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of soil science, plant biology, animal science ... Ability to explain photosynthesis optimization, nutrient cycling, selective breeding, and precision ...

Varsity Tutors

Agricultural Science Tutor

Durham, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of soil science, plant biology, animal science ... Ability to explain photosynthesis optimization, nutrient cycling, selective breeding, and precision ...

Syngenta

Data Partnerships Lead

Durham, NC

We do this by protecting seed, bulbs, or small plant quality from the start to enable growers to ... Strong commercial breeding, product characterisation and customer-facing experience. * Practical ...

Syngenta Group

Data Partnerships Lead

Durham, NC · On-site

We do this by protecting seed, bulbs, or small plant quality from the start to enable growers to ... Strong commercial breeding, product characterisation and customer-facing experience. * Practical ...

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All JobsPlant Breeding JobsPlant Breeding Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Plant Breeding information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$13

$21

$38

How much do plant breeding jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for plant breeding in Raleigh, NC is $21.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $24.52 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is plant breeding?

Plant breeding incorporates traditional methods and modern scientific methods to modify and manipulate plant species to improve crops, food, fuel, plant-based products. The modification is done through processes like genetic engineering or controlled pollination to combine traits and produce the desired phenotypes and genotypes. The process ensures food security and increases the resistance and outcome for plants. It helps plants fight pests, advance crop growth, and sturdiness, and offer a better taste in some situations. The crossing can occur with closely related plants or distantly associated species depending on the traits wanted. Plant breeding has been going on for thousands of years and is practiced worldwide.

What are some typical challenges faced by plant breeders when developing new crop varieties?

Plant breeders often encounter challenges such as balancing multiple desirable traits like yield, disease resistance, and climate adaptability within a single crop variety. They must also manage long breeding cycles, as it can take several years to see the results of their work. Collaboration with agronomists, geneticists, and farmers is essential to ensure new varieties meet market and environmental needs. Additionally, staying updated on advances in biotechnology and regulatory changes is crucial for success in this evolving field.

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

To thrive as a Plant Breeder, you need a strong background in genetics, biology, and agronomy, often supported by a degree in plant science or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, molecular marker technologies, and statistical analysis software such as SAS or R is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective collaboration are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the development of improved crop varieties, successful experimentation, and productive teamwork to meet agricultural challenges.

What is the difference between Plant Breeding vs Plant Genetics?

AspectPlant BreedingPlant Genetics
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Plant Science, Agriculture, or related fields; often includes breeding certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Genetics, Biology, or related fields; may include genetics certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch farms, laboratories, seed companies, agricultural organizationsLaboratories, research institutions, universities, biotech companies
Industry UsageDeveloping new plant varieties, improving crop traitsUnderstanding genetic mechanisms, gene mapping, and inheritance patterns

Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics are closely related fields. Plant Breeding focuses on developing new plant varieties through crossing and selection, while Plant Genetics emphasizes understanding the genetic basis of traits. Both roles often require similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but their primary goals differ: one creates improved crops, the other explores genetic mechanisms.

What is plant breeding?

Plant breeding is the science-driven process of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. This is achieved by selecting plants with beneficial traits and breeding them to create improved varieties, such as those with higher yield, disease resistance, or better nutritional value. Plant breeding can involve traditional cross-breeding methods as well as modern techniques like genetic engineering and marker-assisted selection. The goal is to develop plants that are more productive, resilient, and suited to specific environments or market needs.
More about Plant Breeding jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC? The most popular types of Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What job categories do people searching Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Plant Breeding jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Plant Breeding job openings:
Plant Breeding jobs near you
Infographic showing various Plant Breeding job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,222 per year, or $21.7 per hour.

Agronomist

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Raleigh, NC

$131K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

158th of 292 rated public sector bodies

Job description

This position is located in the USDA, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP). OPMP's mission is to: 1) integrate and coordinate the pest management efforts of the Department; 2) provide data and analyses to EPA to better inform pesticide regulatory decisions; and 3) provide a Departmental focal point for farmers, grower organizations, EPA, and State Land Grant institutions regarding pesticide and pest management issues.
Qualifications:To be considered minimally qualified fort this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying.
Qualifications: Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic Requirements AND Minimum Qualification requirements as listed below.
BASIC REQUIRMENTS:
  1. Degree: agronomy; or related discipline of science that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in the basic plant sciences, including at least 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production, and soil and crop management.
OR
  1. Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, including a minimum of 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education
Evaluation of Education: Course work in such subjects as botany, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant breeding or genetics, plant ecology, plant pathology, microbiology, agronomy, or those dealing with basic soil-water-plant relationships of an agronomic or ecologic nature may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in the basic plant sciences. Agronomy courses include agronomy, fieldcrops, field crop production or management, soil and crop management, plant breeding and development, weed control, and similar courses, including those in soils, biochemistry, plant physiology, etc., provided they dealt with principles, methods, or procedures that are applied directly in agronomic work and in the solving of agronomic problems.
IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At the GS-14, Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting scientific risk assessments and/or benefits assessments for herbicide regulatory decisions; experience leading analyses of risk assessment issues relevant to pest management and herbicides; and experience identifying regulatory alternatives and evaluating risk mitigation options for herbicides. Mastery knowledge of relevant pesticide federal laws, particularly FQPA, FIFRA, and FFDCA is required.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualified for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that include your name, of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if selected.
Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degree from schools accredited by accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign Education: Education completed in a foreign colleges or university may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application.Employment Type: OTHER

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