Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
Soil and Plant Scientists in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn a median of $101,660 a year ($48.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,240 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $78,850. Pay here is 11% higher than the California statewide median of $91,930. There are 0.24 soil and plant scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $91,990, close to the median.
Pay range for soil and plant scientists in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,520 | $21.41 |
| 25th percentile | $52,890 | $25.43 |
| Median | $101,660 | $48.88 |
| 75th percentile | $112,900 | $54.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,240 | $66.94 |
| Average (mean) | $91,990 | $44.23 |
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 | $8,471.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,235.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,910 |
| Weekly | $1,955 |
| Hourly | $48.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $101,660 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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Soil and Plant Scientists pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $145,340 | $69.87 |
| Conservation Scientist | $80,900 | $38.90 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $85,610 | $41.16 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $110,330 | $53.04 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $86,670 | $41.67 |
| Microbiologist | $123,590 | $59.42 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,620 | $56.07 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $109,710 | $52.75 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,270 | $49.17 |
| Food Science Technician | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $123,090 | $59.18 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,380 | $27.59 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $74,410 | $35.77 |
| Chemist | $92,240 | $44.35 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The median salary for soil and plant scientists in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area is $101,660 a year, or $48.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid soil and plant scientists make in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The top 10% of soil and plant scientists in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn at least $139,240 a year. The top 25% earn $112,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for soil and plant scientists in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,520 a year, and a quarter of soil and plant scientists earn $52,890 or less.
How many soil and plant scientists work in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
About 50 soil and plant scientists are employed in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.