Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Pennsylvania
Soil and Plant Scientists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $70,550 a year ($33.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,560 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $78,850. Pennsylvania ranks 28th of 46 states for soil and plant scientists pay. There are 0.03 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $78,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,750 | $22.48 |
| 25th percentile | $53,880 | $25.90 |
| Median | $70,550 | $33.92 |
| 75th percentile | $100,090 | $48.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,560 | $59.89 |
| Average (mean) | $78,720 | $37.85 |
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 | $5,879.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,939.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,713.46 |
| Weekly | $1,356.73 |
| Hourly | $33.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,070 | 150 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $99,190 | $47.69 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $134,090 | $64.47 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $100,780 | $48.45 |
| Conservation Scientist | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| Microbiologist | $84,650 | $40.70 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $83,380 | $40.09 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,860 | $42.24 |
| Forester | $78,280 | $37.64 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Animal Scientist | $77,660 | $37.34 |
| Chemist | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,050 | $41.85 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,870 | $44.17 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in Pennsylvania is $70,550 a year, or $33.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in Pennsylvania earn at least $124,560 a year. The top 25% earn $100,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,750 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $53,880 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Pennsylvania?
About 200 soil and plant scientists are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.