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Top 15 cities for soil and plant scientists by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $124,130 |
|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | $123,060 |
| San Jose, CA | $122,130 |
| Salinas, CA | $111,560 |
| Washington, DC | $107,020 |
| Lafayette, IN | $106,960 |
| Kennewick, WA | $104,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,560 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $104,320 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,940 |
| Fresno, CA | $99,990 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $99,250 |
| Napa, CA | $98,710 |
| Iowa City, IA | $98,310 |
| Riverside, CA | $97,280 |
Map: Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays soil and plant scientists the most statewide, $110,880 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $110,880 | $107,140 | 60 | 1 | $107,020 | $107,020 |
| Colorado | $107,330 | $75,430 | 460 | 1 | $104,320 | $104,320 |
| Iowa | $104,430 | $96,310 | 960 | 4 | $123,060 | $78,630 |
| Alaska | $102,230 | $100,320 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $99,260 | $91,930 | 1,440 | 13 | $124,130 | $86,370 |
| Florida | $98,800 | $103,240 | 270 | 2 | $95,470 | $95,000 |
| Maryland | $97,590 | $85,020 | 200 | 1 | $66,750 | $66,750 |
| Idaho | $96,080 | $95,150 | 540 | 2 | $95,440 | $92,400 |
| Indiana | $92,030 | $80,030 | 440 | 2 | $106,960 | $99,250 |
| New Jersey | $91,400 | $91,970 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hawaii | $89,530 | $84,390 | 60 | 1 | $83,590 | $83,590 |
| Illinois | $89,520 | $79,490 | 820 | 2 | $87,380 | $77,140 |
| New York | $89,490 | $77,800 | 260 | 1 | $93,580 | $93,580 |
| Washington | $89,180 | $79,970 | 520 | 2 | $104,800 | $94,160 |
| Oregon | $89,040 | $85,150 | 620 | 3 | $94,490 | $87,860 |
| Minnesota | $88,200 | $79,610 | 750 | 1 | $88,360 | $88,360 |
| North Carolina | $85,790 | $76,330 | 570 | 4 | $90,370 | $84,650 |
| Connecticut | $85,750 | $67,630 | 200 | 2 | $86,670 | $84,790 |
| Maine | $84,180 | $78,250 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $83,970 | $76,080 | 220 | 2 | $88,980 | $80,450 |
| Mississippi | $82,750 | $72,690 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $81,680 | $83,840 | 270 | 1 | $81,160 | $81,160 |
| South Dakota | $79,240 | $73,590 | 480 | 2 | $84,050 | $82,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,720 | $70,550 | 200 | 1 | $71,560 | $71,560 |
| Virginia | $78,520 | $73,920 | 140 | 1 | $77,150 | $77,150 |
| South Carolina | $77,940 | $78,850 | 90 | 1 | $83,490 | $83,490 |
| Delaware | $77,740 | $65,310 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Montana | $77,540 | $73,920 | 230 | 2 | $82,900 | $70,640 |
| North Dakota | $77,170 | $65,320 | 410 | 2 | $81,970 | $71,140 |
| Massachusetts | $77,160 | $69,880 | n/a | 1 | $78,270 | $78,270 |
| Georgia | $77,100 | $65,170 | 210 | 1 | $69,720 | $69,720 |
| Nebraska | $76,950 | $77,500 | 640 | 2 | $85,220 | $75,180 |
| Alabama | $76,640 | $63,010 | 110 | 1 | $74,040 | $74,040 |
| Kansas | $76,490 | $65,670 | 380 | 2 | $76,650 | $65,920 |
| New Mexico | $76,290 | $69,480 | 90 | 1 | $81,320 | $81,320 |
| Kentucky | $76,110 | $67,340 | 140 | 1 | $73,150 | $73,150 |
| Nevada | $76,110 | $71,450 | 90 | 2 | $78,280 | $74,050 |
| Michigan | $75,210 | $65,390 | 570 | 3 | $84,050 | $65,150 |
| Tennessee | $72,540 | $61,950 | 370 | 3 | $78,840 | $63,140 |
| Wyoming | $69,430 | $55,680 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $68,620 | $66,200 | 680 | 4 | $75,390 | $55,360 |
| Utah | $67,370 | $59,900 | 90 | 1 | $58,150 | $58,150 |
| Louisiana | $67,160 | $60,200 | 170 | 1 | $77,290 | $77,290 |
| Vermont | $66,690 | $58,220 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $65,870 | $56,820 | 320 | 3 | $69,290 | $61,150 |
| Oklahoma | $64,520 | $63,910 | 100 | 1 | $48,970 | $48,970 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,140 | $38,980 | 140 | 1 | $43,110 | $43,110 |
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Soil and Plant Scientists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $124,130 | $108,200 | $59.68 | 140 |
| Des Moines, IA | $123,060 | $132,290 | $59.16 | 430 |
| San Jose, CA | $122,130 | $116,660 | $58.72 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $111,560 | $115,910 | $53.64 | 30 |
| Washington, DC | $107,020 | $95,870 | $51.45 | 230 |
| Lafayette, IN | $106,960 | $86,380 | $51.42 | 30 |
| Kennewick, WA | $104,800 | $99,110 | $50.39 | 40 |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,560 | $98,340 | $50.27 | 190 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $104,320 | $67,330 | $50.16 | 220 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,940 | $96,480 | $49.49 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $99,990 | $100,050 | $48.07 | 90 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $99,250 | $80,030 | $47.72 | 110 |
| Napa, CA | $98,710 | $104,120 | $47.46 | 70 |
| Iowa City, IA | $98,310 | $84,360 | $47.27 | 30 |
| Riverside, CA | $97,280 | $94,900 | $46.77 | 70 |
| Orlando, FL | $95,470 | $106,410 | $45.90 | 30 |
| Boise, ID | $95,440 | $90,610 | $45.89 | 290 |
| Miami, FL | $95,000 | $103,740 | $45.68 | 100 |
| Portland, OR | $94,490 | $94,940 | $45.43 | 250 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $94,210 | $94,980 | $45.29 | 40 |
| Seattle, WA | $94,160 | $83,390 | $45.27 | n/a |
| New York, NY | $93,580 | $84,740 | $44.99 | 170 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $92,400 | $83,780 | $44.43 | 30 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $91,990 | $101,660 | $44.23 | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $91,680 | $86,330 | $44.08 | 140 |
| Modesto, CA | $91,570 | $81,570 | $44.03 | 30 |
| Durham, NC | $90,370 | $86,570 | $43.45 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO | $88,980 | $76,790 | $42.78 | 110 |
| Greensboro, NC | $88,830 | $74,280 | $42.71 | 30 |
| Salem, OR | $88,540 | $93,620 | $42.57 | 110 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $88,490 | $81,570 | $42.55 | 30 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $88,360 | $79,610 | $42.48 | 400 |
| Raleigh, NC | $87,880 | $78,020 | $42.25 | 160 |
| Corvallis, OR | $87,860 | $81,420 | $42.24 | 80 |
| Chicago, IL | $87,380 | $80,360 | $42.01 | 240 |
| New Haven, CT | $86,670 | $87,110 | $41.67 | 90 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $86,370 | $82,490 | $41.53 | 200 |
| Omaha, NE | $85,220 | $81,300 | $40.97 | 120 |
| Hartford, CT | $84,790 | $72,750 | $40.76 | 60 |
| Charlotte, NC | $84,650 | $76,330 | $40.70 | 100 |
| Detroit, MI | $84,050 | $83,370 | $40.41 | 80 |
| Rapid City, SD | $84,050 | $73,310 | $40.41 | 50 |
| Honolulu, HI | $83,590 | $82,110 | $40.19 | 40 |
| Charleston, SC | $83,490 | $77,090 | $40.14 | 40 |
| Missoula, MT | $82,900 | $81,350 | $39.86 | 30 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $82,210 | $73,320 | $39.53 | 150 |
| Bismarck, ND | $81,970 | $86,110 | $39.41 | 40 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $81,320 | $76,400 | $39.10 | 50 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $81,160 | $82,510 | $39.02 | 180 |
| Kansas City, MO | $80,450 | $65,190 | $38.68 | 120 |
| Memphis, TN | $78,840 | $66,450 | $37.90 | 30 |
| Ames, IA | $78,630 | $65,080 | $37.81 | 130 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $78,280 | $82,490 | $37.63 | 40 |
| Boston, MA | $78,270 | $69,880 | $37.63 | n/a |
| New Orleans, LA | $77,290 | $78,870 | $37.16 | 50 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,150 | $73,920 | $37.09 | 40 |
| Champaign, IL | $77,140 | $64,460 | $37.09 | 90 |
| Wichita, KS | $76,650 | $74,440 | $36.85 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $75,390 | $73,510 | $36.25 | 220 |
| Lincoln, NE | $75,180 | $63,760 | $36.14 | 100 |
| Reno, NV | $74,050 | $70,450 | $35.60 | 30 |
| Auburn, AL | $74,040 | $61,840 | $35.60 | 40 |
| Lexington, KY | $73,150 | $67,340 | $35.17 | 80 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $71,560 | $64,070 | $34.41 | 150 |
| Fargo, ND | $71,140 | $65,320 | $34.20 | 230 |
| Nashville, TN | $71,100 | $50,160 | $34.18 | 60 |
| Bozeman, MT | $70,640 | $64,010 | $33.96 | 60 |
| Appleton, WI | $69,890 | $65,290 | $33.60 | 30 |
| Atlanta, GA | $69,720 | $61,610 | $33.52 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $69,290 | $56,470 | $33.31 | 30 |
| Lansing, MI | $68,590 | $65,390 | $32.98 | 220 |
| Baltimore, MD | $66,750 | $57,840 | $32.09 | 40 |
| Manhattan, KS | $65,920 | $66,100 | $31.69 | 60 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $65,150 | $57,160 | $31.32 | 50 |
| Columbus, OH | $64,160 | $60,970 | $30.85 | 50 |
| Knoxville, TN | $63,140 | $51,110 | $30.36 | 120 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $62,600 | $66,200 | $30.09 | 130 |
| Cleveland, OH | $61,150 | $58,220 | $29.40 | 80 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $58,150 | $59,900 | $27.96 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $55,360 | $56,770 | $26.61 | 30 |
| Tulsa, OK | $48,970 | $37,830 | $23.54 | 40 |
| San Juan, PR | $43,110 | $38,200 | $20.72 | 130 |
Related jobs
- Food Scientists and TechnologistsU.S. average $95,360
- Biochemists and BiophysicistsU.S. average $129,840
- Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsU.S. average $83,020
- Biological Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $106,330
- EpidemiologistsU.S. average $97,890
- Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsU.S. average $116,840
- Life Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $107,860
- MicrobiologistsU.S. average $97,600
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Soil and Plant Scientists salary: questions
Where do soil and plant scientists make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $124,130 a year, among the 82 metro areas we cover.
What is the average soil and plant scientists salary in the U.S.?
$87,720 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $78,850, so half of soil and plant scientists earn more than that and half less.
What salary should soil and plant scientists ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of soil and plant scientists nationwide earn between $61,660 (25th percentile) and $103,740 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays soil and plant scientists the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $110,880 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is soil and plant scientists pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $43,110 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1013.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.