Occupation · 2026 assessment

Plant Pathologist

The Plant Pathologist role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Low risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

25%2026
31%2028
38%2030
47%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Preliminary annotation of histology images32%
Detecting suspicious regions in a digital slide30%
Clinical validation of model output and diagnostic accountability3%
Monitoring sensors, fields and crop condition29%
Calculating irrigation, nutrition and treatment34%
Sorting produce by visual characteristics32%
Operating machinery on a standard route42%
Diagnosing problems directly in the field21%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Preliminary annotation of histology imagesAI 32% · human 77%
  2. 2Detecting suspicious regions in a digital slideAI 30% · human 81%
  3. 3Clinical validation of model output and diagnostic accountabilityAI 3% · human 80%
  4. 4Monitoring sensors, fields and crop conditionAI 29% · human 82%
  5. 5Calculating irrigation, nutrition and treatmentAI 34% · human 82%
  6. 6Sorting produce by visual characteristicsAI 32% · human 80%
  7. 7Operating machinery on a standard routeAI 42% · human 69%
  8. 8Diagnosing problems directly in the fieldAI 21% · human 89%

Why technology can change this work

  • drones and satellites automate field monitoring
  • autonomous machinery takes repetitive operations
  • AI forecasts yield, disease and resource needs

What protects the occupation

  • living systems and weather uncertainty
  • on-farm repair and decision making
  • a large share of value comes from human judgement, trust or personal accountability
  • biological and economic accountability

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$5 200per month
2035$7 050scenario estimate
2026: $5 20020262027: $5 40020272028: $5 55020282029: $5 75020292030: $5 95020302031: $6 15020312032: $6 35020322033: $6 55020332034: $6 80020342035: $7 0502035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Renewable Energy Forecasting Analyst

Skill fit 62% · risk 17%

Search jobs ↗

Skills you already have

  • crop or livestock knowledge
  • farm-condition assessment
  • machinery operation
  • seasonal planning

Skills to build

  • precision agriculture
  • agricultural drone operation
  • autonomous farm machinery
  • agricultural data analytics
CurrentPlant Pathologist · 25%
→
Keepcrop or livestock knowledge · farm-condition assessment · machinery operation
→
Addprecision agriculture · agricultural drone operation · autonomous farm machinery

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.