Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,680
- 25th Percentile — Junior$61,660
- 50th Percentile — Median$78,850
- 75th Percentile — Senior$103,740
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$138,120
The top 10% of Soil and Plant Scientists earn $138,120 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $48,680, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,880 | +26.4% |
| Colorado | $107,330 | +22.4% |
| Iowa | $104,430 | +19.0% |
| Alaska | $102,230 | +16.5% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $100,878 | +15.0% |
| New Hampshire (est.) | $100,001 | +14.0% |
| California | $99,260 | +13.2% |
| Florida | $98,800 | +12.6% |
| Maryland | $97,590 | +11.3% |
| Idaho | $96,080 | +9.5% |
| Indiana | $92,030 | +4.9% |
| New Jersey | $91,400 | +4.2% |
| Hawaii | $89,530 | +2.1% |
| Illinois | $89,520 | +2.1% |
| New York | $89,490 | +2.0% |
| Washington | $89,180 | +1.7% |
| Oregon | $89,040 | +1.5% |
| Minnesota | $88,200 | +0.5% |
| North Carolina | $85,790 | -2.2% |
| Connecticut | $85,750 | -2.2% |
| Maine | $84,180 | -4.0% |
| Missouri | $83,970 | -4.3% |
| Texas (est.) | $83,334 | -5.0% |
| Mississippi | $82,750 | -5.7% |
| Arizona | $81,680 | -6.9% |
| South Dakota | $79,240 | -9.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $78,720 | -10.3% |
| Virginia | $78,520 | -10.5% |
| South Carolina | $77,940 | -11.1% |
| Delaware | $77,740 | -11.4% |
| Montana | $77,540 | -11.6% |
| North Dakota | $77,170 | -12.0% |
| Massachusetts | $77,160 | -12.0% |
| Georgia | $77,100 | -12.1% |
| Nebraska | $76,950 | -12.3% |
| Alabama | $76,640 | -12.6% |
| Kansas | $76,490 | -12.8% |
| New Mexico | $76,290 | -13.0% |
| Kentucky | $76,110 | -13.2% |
| Nevada | $76,110 | -13.2% |
| Michigan | $75,210 | -14.3% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $72,808 | -17.0% |
| Tennessee | $72,540 | -17.3% |
| Wyoming | $69,430 | -20.9% |
| Wisconsin | $68,620 | -21.8% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $68,422 | -22.0% |
| Utah | $67,370 | -23.2% |
| Louisiana | $67,160 | -23.4% |
| Vermont | $66,690 | -24.0% |
| Ohio | $65,870 | -24.9% |
| Oklahoma | $64,520 | -26.4% |
What Factors Affect Soil and Plant Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Soil and Plant Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $110,880, while Oklahoma pays $64,520 — a gap of $46,360 per year.
The middle half of Soil and Plant Scientists earn between $61,660 and $103,740 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,680, while the top 10% earn more than $138,120.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Soil and Plant Scientists?
The average salary for Soil and Plant Scientists in the United States is $87,720 per year, with a median of $78,850.
What is the starting salary for Soil and Plant Scientists?
Entry-level Soil and Plant Scientists typically earn between $48,680 and $61,660 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Soil and Plant Scientists the most?
District of Columbia pays Soil and Plant Scientists the most at $110,880 per year on average, followed by Colorado ($107,330) and Iowa ($104,430).
How much do Soil and Plant Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $87,720, Soil and Plant Scientists earn approximately $42.17 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Soil and Plant Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 15,730 Soil and Plant Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $87,720 and a median of $78,850 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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