Description
Assist soil scientists and engineers in field and laboratory investigations to obtain data on soil composition, strength, moisture, and contamination for agricultural, construction, and environmental applications. Collect and analyze soil and boring cuttings, and record moisture, density, and other characteristics of test pits, borings, or monitoring points.
- • Test and analyze soil and sediment samples to determine composition and engineering or agronomic properties, using laboratory apparatus.
- • Collect and prepare soil, sediment, or porewater samples for analysis.
- • Compile, log, and quality-check testing and field data for review and analysis.
- • Prepare field notes, sketches, soil maps, boring logs, and cross-sections.
- • Participate in soil surveys, geotechnical investigations, test pits, drilling programs, and environmental site assessments.
- • Prepare or contribute to reports summarizing sampling methods, test results, and recommendations.
- • Calibrate, adjust, or repair soil testing and sampling equipment.
- • Review prior reports, NRCS resources, and GIS data to compile background soil information.
- • Interview site personnel and research public databases to obtain land-use and soil information.
- • Plot soil and site data from aerial imagery, boring logs, and GIS databases.
- • Maintain organized records, chain-of-custody forms, and sample inventories.
- • Operate and adjust equipment such as hand augers, split-spoon samplers, Shelby tubes, and moisture probes.
- • Coordinate and direct drilling crews or field staff during sampling and in-situ testing.
- • Set up tensiometers, piezometers, inclinometers, and data loggers to monitor soil conditions.
- • Record field readings (e.g., moisture, density, penetration resistance, pH, electrical conductivity) to assess soil conditions.
- • Document sites, cores, and test pits with photographs and annotations.
- • Measure soil characteristics such as grain size, Atterberg limits, shear strength, compaction, and permeability.
- • Participate in evaluating site suitability for foundations, earthworks, agriculture, or remediation.
- • Assess potential impacts of development on soils, including erosion, contamination, and topsoil loss.
- • Evaluate and classify soil cores and cuttings (e.g., USCS) and interpret stratigraphy for design or land management.
- • Observe and document soil borings, test pits, and installation of monitoring wells or instrumentation.
- • Inspect and maintain field and laboratory equipment for wear, calibration, and safety compliance.
- • Collaborate with geotechnical engineers, agronomists, environmental scientists, and hydrologists to evaluate site conditions.
- • Apply new technologies such as portable XRF, spectroscopy, proximal soil sensing, drone imagery, or improved GIS workflows to map and characterize soils.
- • Collect data to support soil carbon assessment and sequestration projects.
- • Collect soil data from potential construction or renewable energy sites to support design and permitting.
- • Compile data to evaluate landfill liner and cover soils, borrow sources, and brownfield remediation needs.
- • Support geophysical or geotechnical surveys to assess subsurface conditions for wind or solar installations.
- • Evaluate and interpret in-situ test results and laboratory data with the aid of spreadsheets and geotechnical software.
- • Perform field compaction control using a nuclear density gauge or sand cone testing and document results.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
