Soil and Plant Scientists Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$56,270
- 25th Percentile — Junior$73,170
- 50th Percentile — Median$96,310
- 75th Percentile — Senior$136,360
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$170,820
Half of Soil and Plant Scientists in Iowa earn more than $96,310. The top 10% make $170,820 or more, while entry-level workers start around $56,270.
Soil and Plant Scientists in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 3rd of 46 states for Soil and Plant Scientists pay, at $104,430 per year (19.0% above the U.S. average of $87,720).
- 960 people work as Soil and Plant Scientists in Iowa — 6.1% of all U.S. Soil and Plant Scientists jobs.
- Location quotient 6.07: Soil and Plant Scientists jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $56,270; the top 10% earn over $170,820.
- Hourly equivalent: $50.21 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $110,880.
- Among science jobs in Iowa, Physicists pays the most ($176,230).
Soil and Plant Scientists Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Soil and Plant Scientists here earn $104,430 on average, placing the state 3rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $104,430 is roughly equivalent to $121,430 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($110,880), Colorado ($107,330), Alaska ($102,230) are the closest alternatives for Soil and Plant Scientists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $176,230/yr Iowa +68.8% vs this role
- Economists $102,020/yr Iowa 2.3% vs this role
- Animal Scientists $100,940/yr Iowa 3.3% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $99,050/yr Iowa 5.2% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $96,820/yr Iowa 7.3% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $96,170/yr Iowa 7.9% vs this role
- Chemists $94,080/yr Iowa 9.9% vs this role
- Microbiologists $91,170/yr Iowa 12.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Iowa?
The average Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Iowa is $104,430 per year (median $96,310), which is 19.0% above the national average of $87,720.
How does Iowa rank for Soil and Plant Scientists pay?
Iowa ranks 3rd out of 46 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($110,880/yr).
How much do entry-level Soil and Plant Scientists make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Soil and Plant Scientists in Iowa earn about $56,270 per year and the 25th percentile is $73,170.
How much do Soil and Plant Scientists make per hour in Iowa?
About $50.21 per hour, based on the $104,430 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Soil and Plant Scientists work in Iowa?
BLS counts 960 Soil and Plant Scientists jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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