Plant Breeder Jobs
Plant Breeder jobs are open across seed companies, agricultural biotechnology firms, universities, and government research agencies, from entry-level research associate to principal scientist and program director, with specializations in crop genetics, trait development, and variety selection. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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See related jobsAs a Breeder Technician, you will play a hands-on role in supporting PanAmerican's breeding and research efforts to bring new, innovative flower and vegetable varieties to market. From sowing seed and transplanting to pollinating, cross-pollinating, and harvesting and cleaning seed, your work will directly shape the quality of our breeding material and keep our breeding programs on schedule. You will partner closely with breeders, growers, supervisors, and fellow technicians, collect and record valuable flower and seed data, and help maintain an organized seed inventory and the smooth movement of plant materials. If you are detail-oriented, enjoy working with plants, and want to see your work grow into the products of tomorrow, this is the role for you.
Responsibilities and duties
- Proficient and accurate execution of breeding and research tasks, such as: sowing seed, transplanting, plant maintenance, pollinating, cross-pollinating, data collection, seed harvest, and seed cleaning.
- Ensure quality of breeding material and breeding timelines are being met.
- Communicate with breeders, grower staff, supervisors, and other technicians to ensure accurate execution of breeding related activities
- Proficient and accurate record flower and seed data entry
- Proficient and accurate label printing skills
- Assist in the maintenance of an organized seed inventory system
- Assist in ensuring organized movement of plant materials
- High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
- Strong communication skills required.
- Ability to work well independently and in groups.
- Must have basic computer skills.
- Good vision and hand-eye coordination to see and manipulate small objects (flower parts and seed)·Partners with others to get work done
- Shows personal commitment and takes action to continuously improve
- Accepts assignments that broaden capabilities
- Pushes self and helps others achieve results
- Occasional travel between West Chicago, IL and Elburn, IL locations
Hourly Pay Range: $18 - $20
Physical Requirements
- Ability to Lift/Carry up to 50 lbs 10% of the day
- Ability to push/pull up to 30 lbs 25% of the day
- Ability to sit/stand 100% of the day
- Ability to kneel/bend 30% of the day
- Ability to reach 10% of the day
- Ability to use hands/fingers 100% of the day
- Ability to work in a normal agricultural/farm and greenhouse environmental conditions including noise, odors, and temperature conditions for 100% of the day.
Our promise to you
Ball is a global leader in horticulture: we develop, produce, and sell plants around the world. Our vision is to color the world through our customers. We create excitement in the world of flowers and are the first choice for service. We deliver all the best and nothing else! To you, we deliver a work environment and a culture where building long-lasting relationships internally and externally is important. We believe that good communication, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects will set us up for success.
In addition to this we provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes:
- Medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, paid parental leave
- 401k/Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
- Paid time off benefits including vacation and holidays
- Tuition assistance
As a Breeder Technician, you will play a hands-on role in supporting PanAmerican's breeding and research efforts to bring new, innovative flower and vegetable varieties to market. From sowing seed and transplanting to pollinating, cross-pollinating, and harvesting and cleaning seed, your work will directly shape the quality of our breeding material and keep our breeding programs on schedule. You will partner closely with breeders, growers, supervisors, and fellow technicians, collect and record valuable flower and seed data, and help maintain an organized seed inventory and the smooth movement of plant materials. If you are detail-oriented, enjoy working with plants, and want to see your work grow into the products of tomorrow, this is the role for you.
Responsibilities and duties
- Proficient and accurate execution of breeding and research tasks, such as: sowing seed, transplanting, plant maintenance, pollinating, cross-pollinating, data collection, seed harvest, and seed cleaning.
- Ensure quality of breeding material and breeding timelines are being met.
- Communicate with breeders, grower staff, supervisors, and other technicians to ensure accurate execution of breeding related activities
- Proficient and accurate record flower and seed data entry
- Proficient and accurate label printing skills
- Assist in the maintenance of an organized seed inventory system
- Assist in ensuring organized movement of plant materials
- High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
- Strong communication skills required.
- Ability to work well independently and in groups.
- Must have basic computer skills.
- Good vision and hand-eye coordination to see and manipulate small objects (flower parts and seed)·Partners with others to get work done
- Shows personal commitment and takes action to continuously improve
- Accepts assignments that broaden capabilities
- Pushes self and helps others achieve results
- Occasional travel between West Chicago, IL and Elburn, IL locations
Hourly Pay Range: $18 - $20
Physical Requirements
- Ability to Lift/Carry up to 50 lbs 10% of the day
- Ability to push/pull up to 30 lbs 25% of the day
- Ability to sit/stand 100% of the day
- Ability to kneel/bend 30% of the day
- Ability to reach 10% of the day
- Ability to use hands/fingers 100% of the day
- Ability to work in a normal agricultural/farm and greenhouse environmental conditions including noise, odors, and temperature conditions for 100% of the day.
Our promise to you
Ball is a global leader in horticulture: we develop, produce, and sell plants around the world. Our vision is to color the world through our customers. We create excitement in the world of flowers and are the first choice for service. We deliver all the best and nothing else! To you, we deliver a work environment and a culture where building long-lasting relationships internally and externally is important. We believe that good communication, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects will set us up for success.
In addition to this we provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes:
- Medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, paid parental leave
- 401k/Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
- Paid time off benefits including vacation and holidays
- Tuition assistance
See All 5 Plant Breeder Jobs
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Find Plant Breeder JobsPlant Breeder Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in plant breeder jobs.
- Master's or PhD in plant breeding, agronomy, genetics, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience designing and managing multi-environment field trials
- Proficiency with statistical software for phenotypic data analysis and genomic selection
- Knowledge of molecular marker platforms and marker-assisted selection workflows
- Experience with one or more major agronomic crops such as corn, soybean, wheat, or cotton
- Familiarity with intellectual property processes for variety protection and seed patenting
Tips for Your Plant Breeder Job Search
Tailor your resume for each crop
Hiring managers in plant breeding scan for the specific crop species you've worked with, whether corn, soy, cotton, or wheat. List each crop explicitly in your experience section rather than grouping them under a generic 'field crops' label.
Highlight your data analysis tools
Modern plant breeder roles require statistical fluency. Call out the software you use for genomic selection, mixed models, or trial analysis, such as R, SAS, or ASReml, so your resume clears automated screening before a recruiter reads it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists plant breeder openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Show your field trial pipeline experience
Many job postings ask for end-to-end trial management. Describe the number of seasons you've managed, the environments you tested in, and the stage at which varieties moved to commercialization, since that progression signals readiness for a lead breeder role.
Prepare a germplasm or variety portfolio
If you've developed or contributed to released varieties, name them. Reviewers at seed companies want to see named releases or advanced lines you stewarded, even if the final commercial decision was made above your level.
Ask technical questions during the interview
Plant breeder interviews often include a presentation on your breeding program. Use the Q-and-A to ask about the germplasm base, selection methods in use, and pipeline stage, so you can speak to exactly how your experience fills their current gaps.
Plant Breeder Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most plant breeders?
The companies hiring the most plant breeders right now include Pilgrim's, Cooper Farms, and Select Genetics, with the largest share of openings in Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Roles at large seed and ag-biotech companies tend to cluster around research station hubs in the Corn Belt and Plains states.
How do you become a plant breeder?
Most plant breeders start with a bachelor's degree in agronomy, biology, or genetics, then pursue a master's or PhD that includes hands-on field trial experience. During your graduate program, seek research assistantships that expose you to crossing blocks, phenotypic selection, and statistical analysis. After graduating, entry-level breeder or breeding associate roles at seed companies or universities are the typical first step into a full breeding program.
How do you get hired as a plant breeder with little experience?
Start by targeting breeding technician or research associate roles, which require less independent program experience and are designed to build your skills under a lead breeder. Document any crop-specific coursework, greenhouse work, or internship trial management in your resume. Even a single growing season of structured field work, clearly described with the crop and selection methods used, strengthens your application significantly over candidates with purely classroom backgrounds.
What does the plant breeder interview process look like?
Most plant breeder interviews include a phone screen with a recruiter or HR contact, followed by a technical interview with the breeding team focused on your trial design experience, statistical methods, and familiarity with the target crop. Candidates for mid-level and senior roles are typically asked to deliver a seminar or structured presentation on their current or most recent breeding program before the final round with hiring managers and stakeholders.
Where can I find and apply to plant breeder jobs?
You can find and apply to plant breeder jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from seed companies, ag-biotech firms, universities, and government research programs across the United States. Search for roles that match your crop experience and seniority level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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