Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Washington
Soil and Plant Scientists in Washington earn a median of $79,970 a year ($38.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,220 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $78,850. Washington ranks 13th of 46 states for soil and plant scientists pay. There are 0.14 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $89,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,210 | $30.39 |
| 25th percentile | $65,650 | $31.56 |
| Median | $79,970 | $38.45 |
| 75th percentile | $103,360 | $49.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,220 | $63.09 |
| Average (mean) | $89,180 | $42.88 |
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 | $6,664.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,332.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,075.77 |
| Weekly | $1,537.88 |
| Hourly | $38.45 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $99,110 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $94,940 | 250 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $83,390 | n/a |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,110 | $51.97 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,780 | $40.28 |
| Conservation Scientist | $78,450 | $37.72 |
| Epidemiologist | $108,240 | $52.04 |
| Forester | $78,460 | $37.72 |
| Microbiologist | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $98,840 | $47.52 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $94,990 | $45.67 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $100,420 | $48.28 |
| Animal Scientist | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Biological Technician | $60,800 | $29.23 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in Washington is $79,970 a year, or $38.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Washington?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in Washington earn at least $131,220 a year. The top 25% earn $103,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,210 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $65,650 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Washington?
About 520 soil and plant scientists are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.