Average Salary for Soil and Plant Scientists
SOC 19-1013 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in the United States is $71,410 ($34.33/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $45,320 at the 10th percentile to $131,440 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 16,600 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 19.2% since 2014.
Median Annual
$71,410
Mean Annual
$83,040
10th Pct
$45,320
75th Pct
$98,110
Employment
16,600
Salary Distribution
$45k
10th
$58k
25th
$71k
Median
$98k
75th
$131k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $113,340 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $105,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,620 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $101,250 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $100,370 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,890 |
| Salinas, CA | $97,760 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $96,540 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $95,570 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $95,480 |
| Boise City, ID | $95,100 |
| Fresno, CA | $94,580 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,310 |
| Salem, OR | $89,220 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $88,300 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,820 |
| Idaho | $90,400 |
| Maine | $88,300 |
| Connecticut | $88,040 |
| New Jersey | $85,020 |
| Arkansas | $84,510 |
| Washington | $82,360 |
| California | $80,960 |
| Indiana | $79,820 |
| Mississippi | $79,790 |
| Oregon | $79,460 |
| Ohio | $79,220 |
| Florida | $77,970 |
| Wyoming | $77,500 |
| Nevada | $76,940 |
| Georgia | $75,250 |
| Maryland | $74,820 |
| Louisiana | $74,620 |
| Montana | $74,330 |
| Utah | $72,550 |
| Iowa | $72,440 |
| Virginia | $71,030 |
| Missouri | $70,450 |
| New York | $70,120 |
| Alabama | $69,200 |
| Colorado | $68,420 |
| Minnesota | $68,260 |
| North Carolina | $68,240 |
| Nebraska | $67,150 |
| New Mexico | $65,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,650 |
| Massachusetts | $64,490 |
| Delaware | $64,300 |
| Wisconsin | $63,770 |
| Kentucky | $63,700 |
| Tennessee | $63,420 |
| Kansas | $62,530 |
| Vermont | $62,300 |
| South Dakota | $61,970 |
| North Dakota | $61,790 |
| Michigan | $61,710 |
| Oklahoma | $61,380 |
| Illinois | $60,970 |
| Arizona | $52,830 |
| South Carolina | $51,550 |
| West Virginia | $42,730 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,110 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $105,230 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $104,800 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $102,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $102,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $102,980 |
| Manufacturing | $99,690 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $96,680 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $96,430 |
| Food Manufacturing | $96,270 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $93,060 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $90,150 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $90,150 |
| Utilities | $89,570 |
| Utilities | $89,570 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $89,560 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $80,450 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $80,320 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $79,260 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $79,030 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $77,410 |
| Wholesale Trade | $77,080 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $76,810 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $75,690 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $75,690 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $75,180 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $75,180 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $74,920 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $74,920 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $74,920 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $74,690 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $73,620 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $73,610 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $73,610 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $73,600 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $73,150 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $72,900 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $71,300 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $71,190 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $71,010 |
| Engineering Services | $69,990 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $69,570 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $67,310 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $67,260 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $67,260 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $67,260 |
| Landscaping Services | $67,260 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $65,990 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $64,200 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $64,200 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $63,680 |
| Educational Services | $62,330 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,630 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,630 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $61,300 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $61,100 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $61,100 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $60,940 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | $60,260 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $49,200 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $48,220 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $48,210 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $48,210 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | $43,810 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $43,810 |
| Educational Services | $42,730 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $71,410 |
| 2023 | $68,240 |
| 2022 | $65,730 |
| 2021 | $66,750 |
| 2020 | $66,120 |
| 2019 | $63,200 |
| 2018 | $63,950 |
| 2017 | $62,430 |
| 2016 | $62,300 |
| 2015 | $60,050 |
| 2014 | $59,920 |