Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Illinois
Soil and Plant Scientists in Illinois earn a median of $79,490 a year ($38.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $141,510 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $78,850. Illinois ranks 15th of 46 states for soil and plant scientists pay. There are 0.13 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $89,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| 25th percentile | $62,690 | $30.14 |
| Median | $79,490 | $38.21 |
| 75th percentile | $107,280 | $51.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,510 | $68.04 |
| Average (mean) | $89,520 | $43.04 |
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 | $6,624.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,312.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,057.31 |
| Weekly | $1,528.65 |
| Hourly | $38.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,360 | 240 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $76,790 | 110 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $64,460 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for soil and plant scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,140 |
| Florida | $103,240 |
| Alaska | $100,320 |
| Iowa | $96,310 |
| Idaho | $95,150 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 |
| California | $91,930 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Maryland | $85,020 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Microbiologist | $92,050 | $44.26 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $94,340 | $45.35 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Epidemiologist | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Forester | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $66,190 | $31.82 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $87,010 | $41.83 |
| Animal Scientist | $47,930 | $23.05 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in Illinois is $79,490 a year, or $38.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $141,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in Illinois earn at least $141,510 a year. The top 25% earn $107,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,160 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $62,690 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Illinois?
About 820 soil and plant scientists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.