Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 16K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$78,850
Median hourly
$38
Average annual
$87,720
Typical range
$48,680–$138,120
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Soil and Plant Scientists is $78,850 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $38 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $48,680 and $138,120 a year. There are roughly 16K people employed as soil and plant scientists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Soil and Plant Scientists.
- Hourly
- $37.91
- Daily
- $303
- Weekly
- $1,516
- Bi-weekly
- $3,033
- Monthly
- $6,571
- Annual
- $78,850
$78,850 a year is around the 50th percentile for Soil and Plant Scientistss. The median is $78,850.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$107,140
- 2Florida$103,240
- 3Alaska$100,320
- 4Iowa$96,310
- 5Idaho$95,150
- 6New Jersey$91,970
- 7California$91,930
- 8Oregon$85,150
- 9Maryland$85,020
- 10Hawaii$84,390
- 11Arizona$83,840
- 12Indiana$80,030
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$132,290
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$116,660
- 3Salinas, CA$115,910
- 4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$108,200
- 5Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$106,410
- 6Napa, CA$104,120
- 7Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$103,740
- 8Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$101,660
- 9Fresno, CA$100,050
- 10Kennewick-Richland, WA$99,110
- 11Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$98,340
- 12Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$96,480
Related job titles
Employers advertise Soil and Plant Scientists roles under these titles.
- Agricultural Specialist
- Agriculturist
- Agronomist
- Apiculturist
- Arboreal Scientist
- Arboriculture Researcher
- Arboriculturist
- Corn Breeder
- Cotton Breeder
- Crop Nutrition Scientist
- Crop Protection Research Agronomist
- Field Research Agronomist
- Field Technology Development Agronomist
- Floriculturist
- Forage Physiologist
- Growth Specialist
Related occupations
What a Soil and Plant Scientists does
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
- Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.
- Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
- Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.
- Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.
- Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Soil and Plant Scientists make?
- The median annual wage for Soil and Plant Scientists is $78,850 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,680 at the 10th percentile to $138,120 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Soil and Plant Scientists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $87,720, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Soil and Plant Scientistss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $107,140.
- Is Soil and Plant Scientists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 16K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Soil and Plant Scientists do?
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.; Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.; Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates..