Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Salinas, CA
Soil and Plant Scientists in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $115,910 a year ($55.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,110 for the top 10%. That is 47% higher than the national median of $78,850. Pay here is 26% higher than the California statewide median of $91,930. There are 0.17 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $111,560, close to the median.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,850 | $25.41 |
| 25th percentile | $84,120 | $40.44 |
| Median | $115,910 | $55.73 |
| 75th percentile | $136,640 | $65.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,110 | $80.82 |
| Average (mean) | $111,560 | $53.64 |
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 | $9,659.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,829.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,458.08 |
| Weekly | $2,229.04 |
| Hourly | $55.73 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $116,660 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,200 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $104,120 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,660 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,050 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98,340 | 190 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $96,480 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,900 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $86,330 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,490 | 200 |
| Modesto, CA | $81,570 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $81,570 | 30 |
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 |
See Soil and Plant Scientists pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $104,540 | $50.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $84,900 | $40.82 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $90,080 | $43.31 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $99,770 | $47.97 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $125,300 | $60.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $98,430 | $47.32 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Agricultural Technician | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Biological Technician | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,510 | $30.53 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in the Salinas, CA metro area is $115,910 a year, or $55.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $168,110 a year. The top 25% earn $136,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,850 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $84,120 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Salinas, CA?
About 30 soil and plant scientists are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.