Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Virginia
Soil and Plant Scientists in Virginia earn a median of $73,920 a year ($35.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,860 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $78,850. Virginia ranks 24th 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 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $78,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,040 | $24.54 |
| 25th percentile | $62,690 | $30.14 |
| Median | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| 75th percentile | $89,870 | $43.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,860 | $54.74 |
| Average (mean) | $78,520 | $37.75 |
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 | $6,160 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,080 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,843.08 |
| Weekly | $1,421.54 |
| Hourly | $35.54 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,870 | 230 |
| Richmond, VA | $73,920 | 40 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| Forester | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| Microbiologist | $77,820 | $37.41 |
| Epidemiologist | $84,930 | $40.83 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,780 | $50.86 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $93,590 | $44.99 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in Virginia is $73,920 a year, or $35.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in Virginia earn at least $113,860 a year. The top 25% earn $89,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,040 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $62,690 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Virginia?
About 140 soil and plant scientists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.