The average salary for a soil and plant scientist in California is around $91,930 per year.
Avg Salary
Soil and plant scientists earn an average yearly salary of $91,930.
Wages typically start from $49,350 and go up to $154,830.
22% above national average Updated in 2025
Soil and plant scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$74.44 per hour
$154,830 per year
Senior-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$57.84 per hour
$120,310 per year
Mid-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$44.20 per hour
$91,930 per year
Junior-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$35.23 per hour
$73,270 per year
Starting level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$23.73 per hour
$49,350 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 California. On average, they make less than geologists but more than soil and water conservationists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Geologist salary | $106K |
| Chemist salary | $98K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $103K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $102K |
| Cartographer salary | $103K |
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $92K |
| Food science technologist salary | $94K |
| Certified crop advisor salary | $99K |
| Conservation scientist salary | $80K |
| Soil and water conservationist salary | $80K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)