Soil and Plant Scientist Salary
Soil and Plant Scientists earn a median $78,850 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$78,850
$37.91 per hour
Range
$48,680 – $138,120
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
15,730
across the U.S.
Soil and Plant Scientist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$64,301
per year · effective tax rate 18.5%
$5,358Monthly
$2,679Twice a month
$2,473Every 2 weeks
$30.91Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,517
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,143
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,301
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,680 | $23.40 | $41,294 |
| 25th percentile | $61,660 | $29.64 | $51,724 |
| Median (50th) | $78,850 | $37.91 | $64,301 |
| 75th percentile | $103,740 | $49.88 | $81,811 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,120 | $66.40 | $105,671 |
Soil and Plant Scientist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,140 | $78,065 | $79,230 – $156,750 | 60 |
| Florida | $103,240 | $81,459 | $48,940 – $125,250 | 270 |
| Alaska | $100,320 | $79,405 | $73,690 – $167,160 | 30 |
| Iowa | $96,310 | $73,576 | $56,270 – $170,820 | 960 |
| Idaho | $95,150 | $71,833 | $58,440 – $167,960 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 | $69,862 | $51,420 – $128,920 | 130 |
| California | $91,930 | $67,988 | $49,350 – $154,830 | 1,440 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | $62,112 | $63,960 – $117,000 | 620 |
| Maryland | $85,020 | $64,967 | $53,630 – $173,440 | 200 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 | $63,315 | $57,000 – $117,350 | 60 |
| Arizona | $83,840 | $65,924 | $40,250 – $124,900 | 270 |
| Indiana | $80,030 | $62,800 | $57,000 – $154,990 | 440 |
| Washington | $79,970 | $65,089 | $63,210 – $131,220 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $79,610 | $60,946 | $50,490 – $136,160 | 750 |
| Illinois | $79,490 | $60,961 | $48,160 – $141,510 | 820 |
| South Carolina | $78,850 | $60,727 | $37,900 – $108,890 | 90 |
| Maine | $78,250 | $59,779 | $49,480 – $128,760 | 30 |
| New York | $77,800 | $59,958 | $58,610 – $134,230 | 260 |
| Nebraska | $77,500 | $60,705 | $40,030 – $121,060 | 640 |
| North Carolina | $76,330 | $59,991 | $47,430 – $136,830 | 570 |
| Missouri | $76,080 | $59,714 | $46,710 – $135,760 | 220 |
| Colorado | $75,430 | $59,284 | $52,420 – $239,200+ | 460 |
| Montana | $73,920 | $58,017 | $58,290 – $105,580 | 230 |
| Virginia | $73,920 | $57,396 | $51,040 – $113,860 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $73,590 | $60,601 | $51,980 – $120,970 | 480 |
| Mississippi | $72,690 | $57,792 | $45,880 – $153,570 | 100 |
| Nevada | $71,450 | $59,095 | $50,000 – $114,990 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,550 | $56,296 | $46,750 – $124,560 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $69,880 | $54,717 | $63,110 – $89,830 | — |
| New Mexico | $69,480 | $55,609 | $52,240 – $102,860 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $67,630 | $54,263 | $56,970 – $130,820 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $67,340 | $53,964 | $57,090 – $107,010 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $66,200 | $53,240 | $44,620 – $89,190 | 680 |
| Kansas | $65,670 | $52,081 | $35,220 – $129,130 | 380 |
| Michigan | $65,390 | $52,193 | $50,640 – $130,100 | 570 |
| North Dakota | $65,320 | $54,650 | $53,590 – $117,010 | 410 |
| Delaware | $65,310 | $51,687 | $59,500 – $107,620 | 60 |
| Georgia | $65,170 | $51,785 | $46,630 – $123,040 | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $63,910 | $51,201 | $35,550 – $106,380 | 100 |
| Alabama | $63,010 | $49,923 | $27,270 – $146,810 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $61,950 | $51,957 | $45,510 – $103,620 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $60,200 | $49,131 | $35,360 – $106,150 | 170 |
| Utah | $59,900 | $48,580 | $39,480 – $100,420 | 90 |
| Vermont | $58,220 | $47,443 | $58,190 – $78,690 | — |
| Ohio | $56,820 | $47,055 | $39,150 – $103,400 | 320 |
| Wyoming | $55,680 | $46,919 | $49,150 – $103,380 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a soil and plant scientist make?
The national median salary for soil and plant scientists is $78,850 a year ($37.91 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,680 and the top 10% earn over $138,120. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays soil and plant scientists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $107,140.
How many soil and plant scientists are there in the U.S.?
About 15,730 people work as soil and plant scientists nationwide.