The average salary for a soil and plant scientist in Illinois is around $79,490 per year.
Avg Salary
Soil and plant scientists earn an average yearly salary of $79,490.
Wages typically start from $48,160 and go up to $141,510.
21% above national average Updated in 2025
Soil and plant scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$68.04 per hour
$141,510 per year
Senior-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$51.58 per hour
$107,280 per year
Mid-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$38.21 per hour
$79,490 per year
Junior-level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$30.14 per hour
$62,690 per year
Starting level soil and plant scientist earnings begin at:
$23.16 per hour
$48,160 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 Illinois. On average, they make less than environmental consultants but more than range managers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Environmental consultant salary | $82K |
| Environmental restoration planner salary | $82K |
| Industrial ecologist salary | $82K |
| Climate change analyst salary | $82K |
| Geographer salary | $93K |
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $79K |
| Forester salary | $82K |
| Geodesist salary | $76K |
| Biomass plant technician salary | $78K |
| Range manager salary | $70K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)