Soil and Plant Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for soil and plant scientists in the U.S. is $78,850 ($37.91 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $78,850
- Mean annual wage
- $87,720
- Median hourly wage
- $37.91
- Employment
- 15,730
15,730 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| 25th percentile | $61,660 | $29.65 |
| Median (50th) | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| 75th percentile | $103,740 | $49.88 |
| 90th percentile | $138,120 | $66.40 |
Highest-paying states for soil and plant scientists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,140 | 60 |
| Florida | $103,240 | 270 |
| Alaska | $100,320 | 30 |
| Iowa | $96,310 | 960 |
| Idaho | $95,150 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 | 130 |
| California | $91,930 | 1,440 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | 620 |
| Maryland | $85,020 | 200 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 | 60 |
Lowest-paying states
- Wyoming: $55,680 median annual wage
- Ohio: $56,820 median annual wage
- Vermont: $58,220 median annual wage
- Utah: $59,900 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $60,200 median annual wage
About this occupation
Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.
Typical tasks
- Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.
- Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
- Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.
- Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.
- Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 57.7% |
| Master's degree | 27.0% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 15.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.