Soil and Plant Scientists salary in the U.S.
Soil and Plant Scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $78,850 a year ($37.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,120 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $87,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| 25th percentile | $61,660 | $29.65 |
| Median | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| 75th percentile | $103,740 | $49.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,120 | $66.40 |
| Average (mean) | $87,720 | $42.17 |
Half of soil and plant scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,570.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,285.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,032.69 |
| Weekly | $1,516.35 |
| Hourly | $37.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,140 | 60 |
| Florida | $103,240 | 270 |
| Alaska | $100,320 | 30 |
| Iowa | $96,310 | 960 |
| Idaho | $95,150 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 | 130 |
| California | $91,930 | 1,440 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | 620 |
| Maryland | $85,020 | 200 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 | 60 |
| Arizona | $83,840 | 270 |
| Indiana | $80,030 | 440 |
| Washington | $79,970 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $79,610 | 750 |
| Illinois | $79,490 | 820 |
| South Carolina | $78,850 | 90 |
| Maine | $78,250 | 30 |
| New York | $77,800 | 260 |
| Nebraska | $77,500 | 640 |
| North Carolina | $76,330 | 570 |
| Missouri | $76,080 | 220 |
| Colorado | $75,430 | 460 |
| Montana | $73,920 | 230 |
| Virginia | $73,920 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $73,590 | 480 |
| Mississippi | $72,690 | 100 |
| Nevada | $71,450 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,550 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $69,880 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $69,480 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $67,630 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $67,340 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $66,200 | 680 |
| Kansas | $65,670 | 380 |
| Michigan | $65,390 | 570 |
| North Dakota | $65,320 | 410 |
| Delaware | $65,310 | 60 |
| Georgia | $65,170 | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $63,910 | 100 |
| Alabama | $63,010 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $61,950 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $60,200 | 170 |
| Utah | $59,900 | 90 |
| Vermont | $58,220 | n/a |
| Ohio | $56,820 | 320 |
| Wyoming | $55,680 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,980 | 140 |
Best-paying metro areas for soil and plant scientists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $132,290 | 430 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $116,660 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $115,910 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,200 | 140 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $106,410 | 30 |
| Napa, CA | $104,120 | 70 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $103,740 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,660 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,050 | 90 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $99,110 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98,340 | 190 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $96,480 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,870 | 230 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $94,980 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $94,940 | 250 |
Metro areas with the most soil and plant scientists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 430 | $132,290 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 400 | $79,610 |
| Boise City, ID | 290 | $90,610 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 250 | $94,940 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 240 | $80,360 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 230 | $65,320 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 230 | $95,870 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 220 | $67,330 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 220 | $65,390 |
| Madison, WI | 220 | $73,510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 200 | $82,490 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 190 | $98,340 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 180 | $82,510 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 170 | $84,740 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 160 | $78,020 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a soil and plant scientists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in the U.S. is $78,850 a year, or $37.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in the U.S. earn at least $138,120 a year. The top 25% earn $103,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,680 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $61,660 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in the U.S.?
About 15,730 soil and plant scientists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.