Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median soil and plant scientists salary in the United States is $78,850 per year ($37.91/hour). Salaries range from $48,680 at the entry level to $138,120+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 15,730 soil and plant scientists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 5.4% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$78,850
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.91
per hour
Employment
15,730
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$48,680
25th percentile
$61,660
Median
$78,850
75th percentile
$103,740
90th percentile
$138,120
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+5.4%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
1,700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Soil and Plant Scientists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$56K$107K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$107K
+36%
Florida
$103K
+31%
Alaska
$100K
+27%
Iowa
$96K
+22%
Idaho
$95K
+21%
New Jersey
$92K
+17%
California
$92K
+17%
Oregon
$85K
+8%
Maryland
$85K
+8%
Hawaii
$84K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,140 | +35.9% |
| Florida | $103,240 | +30.9% |
| Alaska | $100,320 | +27.2% |
| Iowa | $96,310 | +22.1% |
| Idaho | $95,150 | +20.7% |
| New Jersey | $91,970 | +16.6% |
| California | $91,930 | +16.6% |
| Oregon | $85,150 | +8.0% |
| Maryland | $85,020 | +7.8% |
| Hawaii | $84,390 | +7.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 46
Soil and Plant Scientists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $132,290 | +67.8% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $116,660 | +48.0% |
| Salinas, CA | $115,910 | +47.0% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,200 | +37.2% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $106,410 | +35.0% |
| Napa, CA | $104,120 | +32.0% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $103,740 | +31.6% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,660 | +28.9% |
| Fresno, CA | $100,050 | +26.9% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $99,110 | +25.7% |
Showing 1–10 of 83
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A soil and plant scientists earning $78,850/year would need 756 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 812 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how soil and plant scientists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Soil and Plant Scientists salary trend (2011–2024) →