Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,830 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Boston earn between $67,000 and $89,830.
- $67K10th
- $67K25th
- $70KMedian
- $90K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,270 | $6,522 | $37.63 |
| Median | $69,880 | $5,823 | $33.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,830 | $7,486 | $43.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($77,160) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $78,270 | $69,880 | $67,000 | $89,830 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $77,160 | $69,880 | $63,110 | $89,830 | n/a |
| United States | $87,720 | $78,850 | $48,680 | $138,120 | 15,730 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $78,270, a single filer in Boston takes home about $60,299 a year, or $5,025 a month and $2,319 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $63,893 | $5,324 |
| Working in MA | $60,299 | $5,025 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $78,270 buys what about $72,294 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Hartford, CT$84,790
- New Haven, CT$86,670
- New York, NY$93,580
- Philadelphia, PA$71,560
- Baltimore, MD$66,750
- Washington, DC$107,020
Highest-paying cities for soil and plant scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($124,130).
- San Francisco, CA$124,130
- Des Moines, IA$123,060
- San Jose, CA$122,130
- Salinas, CA$111,560
- Washington, DC$107,020
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Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Boston: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Boston?
$37.63 an hour on average, and $33.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Boston?
About $60,299 a year ($5,025 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,270. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($87,720).
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; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
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