How much does a soil and plant scientist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $37.91 an hour or $6,571 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.91
- Average (mean)
- $87,720
- Jobs
- 15,730
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,680 | $23.40 | |
| 25th | $61,660 | $29.64 | |
| Median | $78,850 | $37.91 | |
| 75th | $103,700 | $49.88 | |
| 90th | $138,100 | $66.40 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $107,100 |
| Florida | $103,200 |
| Alaska | $100,300 |
| Iowa | $96,310 |
| Idaho | $95,150 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 |
| California | $91,930 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Maryland | $85,020 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 |
| Arizona | $83,840 |
| Indiana | $80,030 |
| Washington | $79,970 |
| Minnesota | $79,610 |
| Illinois | $79,490 |
| South Carolina | $78,850 |
| Maine | $78,250 |
| New York | $77,800 |
| Nebraska | $77,500 |
| North Carolina | $76,330 |
| Missouri | $76,080 |
| Colorado | $75,430 |
| Montana | $73,920 |
| Virginia | $73,920 |
| South Dakota | $73,590 |
| Mississippi | $72,690 |
| Nevada | $71,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,550 |
| Massachusetts | $69,880 |
| New Mexico | $69,480 |
| Connecticut | $67,630 |
| Kentucky | $67,340 |
| Wisconsin | $66,200 |
| Kansas | $65,670 |
| Michigan | $65,390 |
| North Dakota | $65,320 |
| Delaware | $65,310 |
| Georgia | $65,170 |
| Oklahoma | $63,910 |
| Alabama | $63,010 |
| Tennessee | $61,950 |
| Louisiana | $60,200 |
| Utah | $59,900 |
| Vermont | $58,220 |
| Ohio | $56,820 |
| Wyoming | $55,680 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Des Moines, IA | $132,300 |
| San Jose, CA | $116,700 |
| Salinas, CA | $115,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $108,200 |
| Orlando, FL | $106,400 |
| Napa, CA | $104,100 |
| Miami, FL | $103,700 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $101,700 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,100 |
| Kennewick, WA | $99,110 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,340 |
| Oxnard, CA | $96,480 |
| Washington, DC | $95,870 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $94,980 |
| Portland, OR | $94,940 |
In other countries
Soil and Plant Scientist belongs to the international group "Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Animal Scientist$68,940
- Food Scientist and Technologist$88,720
- Biochemist and Biophysicist$127,400
- Microbiologist$87,990
- Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$76,780
- Biological Scientist$98,920
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Forester$76,400
- Epidemiologist$87,220
- Medical Scientist$103,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a soil and plant scientist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $37.91 ($78,850 a year).
How much does a soil and plant scientist make a month?
About $6,571 a month before tax, based on a median of $78,850 a year.
How much does a soil and plant scientist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,680 or less a year ($23.40 an hour); the top 10% make $138,100 or more.
Which state pays soil and plant scientists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $107,100 a year, followed by Florida ($103,200) and Alaska ($100,300).
Which city pays soil and plant scientists the most?
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, with a median of $132,300 a year.
How many soil and plant scientists are there in the United States?
About 15,730 people work as soil and plant scientists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.