The average salary for a soil and plant scientist in the United States is around $78,850 per year.
Avg Salary
Soil and plant scientists earn an average yearly salary of $78,850.
Wages typically start from $48,680 and go up to $138,120.
25% above national average Updated in 2025
Soil and plant scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$66.40 per hour
$138,120 per year
Senior-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$49.88 per hour
$103,740 per year
Mid-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$37.91 per hour
$78,850 per year
Junior-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$29.65 per hour
$61,660 per year
Starting level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$23.41 per hour
$48,680 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Soil and plant scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Iowa | $96,310 |
| Idaho | $95,150 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 |
| California | $91,930 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Maryland | $85,020 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 |
| Arizona | $83,840 |
| Indiana | $80,030 |
| Washington | $79,970 |
| Minnesota | $79,610 |
| Illinois | $79,490 |
| South Carolina | $78,850 |
| Maine | $78,250 |
| New York | $77,800 |
| Arkansas | $77,550 |
| Nebraska | $77,500 |
| North Carolina | $76,330 |
| Missouri | $76,080 |
| Colorado | $75,430 |
| Montana | $73,920 |
| Virginia | $73,920 |
| South Dakota | $73,590 |
| Mississippi | $72,690 |
| Nevada | $71,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,550 |
| Massachusetts | $69,880 |
| New Mexico | $69,480 |
| Connecticut | $67,630 |
| Kentucky | $67,340 |
| Wisconsin | $66,200 |
| Kansas | $65,670 |
| Michigan | $65,390 |
| North Dakota | $65,320 |
| Delaware | $65,310 |
| Georgia | $65,170 |
| Oklahoma | $63,910 |
| Alabama | $63,010 |
| Tennessee | $61,950 |
| Louisiana | $60,200 |
| Utah | $59,900 |
| Texas | $59,870 |
| Vermont | $58,220 |
| Ohio | $56,820 |
| Wyoming | $55,680 |
| Rhode Island | $51,600 |
| West Virginia | $47,040 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,320 |
| District of Columbia | $107,140 |
| Florida | $103,240 |
| Alaska | $100,320 |
How do soil and plant scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Soil and plant scientists earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than climate change analysts but more than foresters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Climate change analyst salary | $82K |
| Environmental consultant salary | $82K |
| Environmental restoration planner salary | $82K |
| Landscape architect salary | $80K |
| Animal scientist salary | $69K |
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $79K |
| Cartographer salary | $81K |
| Geodesist salary | $75K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $72K |
| Forester salary | $76K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)