Job Information
Washington State University Plant Technician 2 in Puyallup, Washington
Plant Technician 2
Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:
February 9, 2026
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.
Available Title(s):
570K-YNCSNPS - Plant Technician 2
Business Title:
Plant Technician 2
Employee Type:
Classified
Position Details:
The Opportunity:
As a Plant Technician 2 for the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center, you will support research and extension activities in the Ornamental Plant Pathology Program by managing greenhouse, nursery, and field-grown plants; establishing and maintaining research plots; and conducting plant care activities such as propagation, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and general crop maintenance.
You will assist with plant pathology experiments, including evaluating disease management tools and collecting, organizing, and entering data.
In this role, your duties will also include operating small farm and greenhouse equipment, leading part-time employees, and supporting specialized projects such as low-pressure steam treatments for disease and pest control. You will maintain pesticide and operational records, orders materials, and provides general administrative and technical support to ensure smooth program operations.
Additional Information:
This is a full time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime eligible.
Monthly Salary: $3,495 to $4,653 | Range 39 (Steps A-M) | Successful candidates are typically hired at the beginning of the salary range and receive scheduled salary increment increases in accordance with https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=357-28.
In accordance with https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.
Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the https://hrs.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Benefit-Overview-for-Civil-Service.pdf and https://hrs.wsu.edu/managers/recruitment-toolkit/total-compensation/.
Required Qualifications:
• High school graduation or equivalent and three years of work experience in plant research, plant propagation, farm or business management, or related work. College training in one of the plant sciences may be substituted, year-for-year, for required experience. Additional years of applicable experience may be substituted for educational requirements.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver's license, meet requirements in accordance with https://policies.wsu.edu/prf/index/manuals/safety-policies-procedures-manual/sppm-7-10/#four_3 , and departmental driving standards, which includes 2 years driving experience.
• Computer literacy - capacity to collect and manage data in excel, experience using ArcGIS.
• Experience working with plants in a nursery, greenhouse, and field.