Soil and Plant Scientists salary in California
Soil and Plant Scientists in California earn a median of $91,930 a year ($44.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,830 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $78,850. California ranks 7th of 46 states for soil and plant scientists pay. There are 0.08 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $99,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,350 | $23.73 |
| 25th percentile | $73,270 | $35.23 |
| Median | $91,930 | $44.20 |
| 75th percentile | $120,310 | $57.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,830 | $74.44 |
| Average (mean) | $99,260 | $47.72 |
Half of soil and plant scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,660.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,830.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,535.77 |
| Weekly | $1,767.88 |
| Hourly | $44.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $91,930 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $116,660 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $115,910 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,200 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $104,120 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,660 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,050 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98,340 | 190 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $96,480 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,900 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $86,330 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,490 | 200 |
| Modesto, CA | $81,570 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $81,570 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for soil and plant scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,140 |
| Florida | $103,240 |
| Alaska | $100,320 |
| Iowa | $96,310 |
| Idaho | $95,150 |
| New Jersey | $91,970 |
| California | $91,930 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Maryland | $85,020 |
| Hawaii | $84,390 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $139,580 | $67.11 |
| Microbiologist | $108,530 | $52.18 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $93,950 | $45.17 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $98,530 | $47.37 |
| Conservation Scientist | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| Epidemiologist | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $102,830 | $49.44 |
| Forester | $107,120 | $51.50 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a soil and plant scientists make in California?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in California is $91,930 a year, or $44.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in California?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in California earn at least $154,830 a year. The top 25% earn $120,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,350 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $73,270 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in California?
About 1,440 soil and plant scientists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.