Soil and Plant Scientists
Soil and Plant Scientists (SOC 19-1013) earn a median $78,850 a year ($37.91 an hour) in the United States, with 15,730 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What soil and plant scientists do
Soil and plant scientists study crops, trees, and other cultivated plants, and the soils in which they grow. Some focus on plants: breeding, physiology, yield, production, and control of pests. Others focus on soil: its chemical, physical, biological, and mineral makeup and how it can be managed and conserved. Typical tasks include running experiments to develop improved varieties of field crops, developing soil management methods that farmers and foresters can apply, and giving farmers and other landowners information and recommendations on managing their land. They also report their results to other scientists, to the public, and in classrooms. The occupation is distinct from conservation scientists, who manage and protect natural resource lands, from agricultural and food science technicians, who carry out lab and field tests under supervision, and from farmers and crop managers, who grow the crops. They also investigate soil problems and poor water quality, and they identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve them.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a master's degree.
Also called: Agronomist, Agricultural Specialist, Agriculturist, Apiculturist, Arboreal Scientist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.41 | $29.65 | $37.91 | $49.88 | $66.40 | $42.17 | 15,730 |
| Annual | $48,680 | $61,660 | $78,850 | $103,740 | $138,120 | $87,720 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where soil and plant scientists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $38.09 | $39.61 | $51.51 | $58.50 | $75.36 | $53.31 | 60 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $79,230 | $82,400 | $107,140 | $121,680 | $156,750 | $110,880 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $23.53 | $37.15 | $49.64 | $55.39 | $60.22 | $47.50 | 270 | 0.03 | 0.27 |
| Annual | $48,940 | $77,270 | $103,240 | $115,210 | $125,250 | $98,800 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $35.43 | $37.64 | $48.23 | $58.25 | $80.37 | $49.15 | 30 | 0.09 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $73,690 | $78,290 | $100,320 | $121,160 | $167,160 | $102,230 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $27.05 | $35.18 | $46.30 | $65.56 | $82.12 | $50.21 | 960 | 0.61 | 6.07 |
| Annual | $56,270 | $73,170 | $96,310 | $136,360 | $170,820 | $104,430 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $28.10 | $32.27 | $45.75 | $52.99 | $80.75 | $46.19 | 540 | 0.63 | 6.19 |
| Annual | $58,440 | $67,120 | $95,150 | $110,230 | $167,960 | $96,080 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $23.73 | $35.23 | $44.20 | $57.84 | $74.44 | $47.72 | 1,440 | 0.08 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $49,350 | $73,270 | $91,930 | $120,310 | $154,830 | $99,260 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $27.05 | $35.18 | $46.30 | $65.56 | $82.12 | $50.21 | 960 | 0.61 | 6.07 |
| Annual | $56,270 | $73,170 | $96,310 | $136,360 | $170,820 | $104,430 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.16 | $30.14 | $38.21 | $51.58 | $68.04 | $43.04 | 820 | 0.13 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $48,160 | $62,690 | $79,490 | $107,280 | $141,510 | $89,520 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $24.28 | $31.31 | $38.28 | $53.19 | $65.46 | $42.41 | 750 | 0.25 | 2.50 |
| Annual | $50,490 | $65,120 | $79,610 | $110,640 | $136,160 | $88,200 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $21.45 | $29.15 | $31.83 | $37.51 | $42.88 | $32.99 | 680 | 0.23 | 2.27 |
| Annual | $44,620 | $60,620 | $66,200 | $78,020 | $89,190 | $68,620 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | Hourly | $35.70 | $38.94 | $63.60 | $77.81 | $82.47 | $59.16 | 430 | 1.07 | 10.57 |
| Annual | $74,250 | $81,000 | $132,290 | $161,840 | $171,530 | $123,060 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.91 | $44.07 | $56.09 | $74.46 | $86.12 | $58.72 | 70 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $58,050 | $91,670 | $116,660 | $154,880 | $179,120 | $122,130 | ||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $25.41 | $40.44 | $55.73 | $65.69 | $80.82 | $53.64 | 30 | 0.17 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $52,850 | $84,120 | $115,910 | $136,640 | $168,110 | $111,560 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $37.08 | $40.96 | $52.02 | $82.07 | $82.07 | $59.68 | 140 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $77,130 | $85,200 | $108,200 | $170,700 | $170,710 | $124,130 | ||||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Hourly | $21.37 | $24.47 | $51.16 | $60.22 | $60.22 | $45.90 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| Annual | $44,440 | $50,900 | $106,410 | $125,250 | $125,250 | $95,470 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | Hourly | $35.70 | $38.94 | $63.60 | $77.81 | $82.47 | $59.16 | 430 | 1.07 | 10.57 |
| Annual | $74,250 | $81,000 | $132,290 | $161,840 | $171,530 | $123,060 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $24.28 | $31.31 | $38.28 | $51.27 | $60.87 | $42.48 | 400 | 0.21 | 2.03 |
| Annual | $50,490 | $65,120 | $79,610 | $106,630 | $126,600 | $88,360 | ||||
| Boise City, ID | Hourly | $28.59 | $32.15 | $43.56 | $53.70 | $78.47 | $45.89 | 290 | 0.73 | 7.20 |
| Annual | $59,460 | $66,870 | $90,610 | $111,700 | $163,220 | $95,440 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $30.53 | $35.45 | $45.64 | $51.11 | $64.21 | $45.43 | 250 | 0.20 | 2.00 |
| Annual | $63,490 | $73,740 | $94,940 | $106,300 | $133,560 | $94,490 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.49 | $30.09 | $38.64 | $53.11 | $65.03 | $42.01 | 240 | 0.05 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $44,700 | $62,590 | $80,360 | $110,470 | $135,250 | $87,380 | ||||
Top industries employing soil and plant scientists
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services employ 14.2% of soil and plant scientists nationally (2,230 jobs) at a median $72,940 a year ($35.07 an hour), followed by Scientific Research and Development Services (13.8%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (13.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 2,230 | 14.2% | $72,940 | $35.07 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 2,170 | 13.8% | $89,830 | $43.19 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 2,160 | 13.7% | $65,390 | $31.44 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) NAICS 4240A3 | 1,690 | 10.7% | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 1,150 | 7.3% | $92,240 | $44.35 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (15,730). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $66,750 for soil and plant scientists in May 2021 and $78,850 in May 2025, with employment of 15,610 and 15,730.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $66,750 | $32.09 | 15,610 |
| May 2022 | $65,730 | $31.60 | 16,010 |
| May 2023 | $68,240 | $32.81 | 15,800 |
| May 2024 | $71,410 | $34.33 | 16,600 |
| May 2025 | $78,850 | $37.91 | 15,730 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $51.51 | $107,140 | $79,230 | $156,750 | 60 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| 2 | Florida profile | $49.64 | $103,240 | $48,940 | $125,250 | 270 | 0.03 | 0.27 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $48.23 | $100,320 | $73,690 | $167,160 | 30 | 0.09 | 0.92 |
| 4 | Iowa profile | $46.30 | $96,310 | $56,270 | $170,820 | 960 | 0.61 | 6.07 |
| 5 | Idaho profile | $45.75 | $95,150 | $58,440 | $167,960 | 540 | 0.63 | 6.19 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $44.22 | $91,970 | $51,420 | $128,920 | 130 | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| 7 | California profile | $44.20 | $91,930 | $49,350 | $154,830 | 1,440 | 0.08 | 0.78 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $40.94 | $85,150 | $63,960 | $117,000 | 620 | 0.32 | 3.12 |
| 9 | Maryland profile | $40.87 | $85,020 | $53,630 | $173,440 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.70 |
| 10 | Hawaii profile | $40.57 | $84,390 | $57,000 | $117,350 | 60 | 0.10 | 0.99 |
| 11 | Arizona profile | $40.31 | $83,840 | $40,250 | $124,900 | 270 | 0.08 | 0.83 |
| 12 | Indiana profile | $38.48 | $80,030 | $57,000 | $154,990 | 440 | 0.14 | 1.36 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $38.45 | $79,970 | $63,210 | $131,220 | 520 | 0.15 | 1.43 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $38.28 | $79,610 | $50,490 | $136,160 | 750 | 0.25 | 2.50 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $38.21 | $79,490 | $48,160 | $141,510 | 820 | 0.13 | 1.33 |
| 16 | South Carolina profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $37,900 | $108,890 | 90 | 0.04 | 0.40 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $37.62 | $78,250 | $49,480 | $128,760 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.51 |
| 18 | New York profile | $37.41 | $77,800 | $58,610 | $134,230 | 260 | 0.03 | 0.26 |
| 19 | Nebraska profile | $37.26 | $77,500 | $40,030 | $121,060 | 640 | 0.63 | 6.18 |
| 20 | North Carolina profile | $36.70 | $76,330 | $47,430 | $136,830 | 570 | 0.12 | 1.14 |
| 21 | Missouri profile | $36.58 | $76,080 | $46,710 | $135,760 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.74 |
| 22 | Colorado profile | $36.26 | $75,430 | $52,420 | $288,300 | 460 | 0.16 | 1.57 |
| 23 | Montana profile | $35.54 | $73,920 | $58,290 | $105,580 | 230 | 0.45 | 4.43 |
| 24 | Virginia profile | $35.54 | $73,920 | $51,040 | $113,860 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.33 |
| 25 | South Dakota profile | $35.38 | $73,590 | $51,980 | $120,970 | 480 | 1.04 | 10.32 |
| 26 | Mississippi profile | $34.95 | $72,690 | $45,880 | $153,570 | 100 | 0.08 | 0.81 |
| 27 | Nevada profile | $34.35 | $71,450 | $50,000 | $114,990 | 90 | 0.06 | 0.56 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania profile | $33.92 | $70,550 | $46,750 | $124,560 | 200 | 0.03 | 0.33 |
| 29 | Massachusetts profile | $33.59 | $69,880 | $63,110 | $89,830 | ** | ** | ** |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $33.41 | $69,480 | $52,240 | $102,860 | 90 | 0.10 | 1.01 |
| 31 | Connecticut profile | $32.52 | $67,630 | $56,970 | $130,820 | 200 | 0.12 | 1.17 |
| 32 | Kentucky profile | $32.38 | $67,340 | $57,090 | $107,010 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $31.83 | $66,200 | $44,620 | $89,190 | 680 | 0.23 | 2.27 |
| 34 | Kansas profile | $31.57 | $65,670 | $35,220 | $129,130 | 380 | 0.27 | 2.64 |
| 35 | Michigan profile | $31.44 | $65,390 | $50,640 | $130,100 | 570 | 0.13 | 1.28 |
| 36 | North Dakota profile | $31.41 | $65,320 | $53,590 | $117,010 | 410 | 0.96 | 9.50 |
| 37 | Delaware profile | $31.40 | $65,310 | $59,500 | $107,620 | 60 | 0.12 | 1.21 |
| 38 | Georgia profile | $31.33 | $65,170 | $46,630 | $123,040 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.43 |
| 39 | Oklahoma profile | $30.72 | $63,910 | $35,550 | $106,380 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| 40 | Alabama profile | $30.29 | $63,010 | $27,270 | $146,810 | 110 | 0.05 | 0.52 |
| 41 | Tennessee profile | $29.78 | $61,950 | $45,510 | $103,620 | 370 | 0.11 | 1.13 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $28.94 | $60,200 | $35,360 | $106,150 | 170 | 0.09 | 0.88 |
| 43 | Utah profile | $28.80 | $59,900 | $39,480 | $100,420 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.50 |
| 44 | Vermont profile | $27.99 | $58,220 | $58,190 | $78,690 | ** | ** | ** |
| 45 | Ohio profile | $27.32 | $56,820 | $39,150 | $103,400 | 320 | 0.06 | 0.58 |
| 46 | Wyoming profile | $26.77 | $55,680 | $49,150 | $103,380 | 50 | 0.18 | 1.82 |
| – | Arkansas profile | * | * | * | * | 110 | 0.09 | 0.85 |
| – | Texas profile | * | * | * | * | 500 | 0.04 | 0.35 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-1013 Soil and Plant Scientists.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-1013, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-1013.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.