Soil and Plant Scientists salary in New Jersey
Soil and Plant Scientists in New Jersey earn a median of $91,970 a year ($44.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,920 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $78,850. New Jersey ranks 6th of 46 states for soil and plant scientists pay. There are 0.03 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $91,400, close to the median.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,420 | $24.72 |
| 25th percentile | $73,570 | $35.37 |
| Median | $91,970 | $44.22 |
| 75th percentile | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,920 | $61.98 |
| Average (mean) | $91,400 | $43.94 |
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 | $7,664.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,832.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,537.31 |
| Weekly | $1,768.65 |
| Hourly | $44.22 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,740 | 170 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,070 | 150 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $129,280 | $62.16 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $122,620 | $58.95 |
| Microbiologist | $96,020 | $46.16 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $104,340 | $50.16 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $104,750 | $50.36 |
| Conservation Scientist | $64,020 | $30.78 |
| Epidemiologist | $109,760 | $52.77 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,030 | $39.92 |
| Chemist | $84,450 | $40.60 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,610 | $43.56 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $79,210 | $38.08 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $127,090 | $61.10 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in New Jersey is $91,970 a year, or $44.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in New Jersey earn at least $128,920 a year. The top 25% earn $102,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,420 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $73,570 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in New Jersey?
About 130 soil and plant scientists are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.