Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Soil and Plant Scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $80,360 a year ($38.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,250 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $78,850. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $79,490. There are 0.05 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $87,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| 25th percentile | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| Median | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| 75th percentile | $110,470 | $53.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,250 | $65.03 |
| Average (mean) | $87,380 | $42.01 |
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 | $6,696.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,348.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,090.77 |
| Weekly | $1,545.38 |
| Hourly | $38.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $86,380 | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $80,030 | 110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $76,790 | 110 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $64,460 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,470 | 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 |
See Soil and Plant Scientists pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| Microbiologist | $100,620 | $48.38 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $85,680 | $41.19 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $100,390 | $48.27 |
| Conservation Scientist | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| Epidemiologist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $85,780 | $41.24 |
| Forester | $85,610 | $41.16 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $70,690 | $33.99 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,630 | $48.86 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $80,360 a year, or $38.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $135,250 a year. The top 25% earn $110,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,700 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $62,590 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 240 soil and plant scientists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.