What does a Soil and Plant Scientists salary really buy you in Missouri?
Missouri is 8.9% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.1, meaning prices are 8.9% lower the national average. A Soil and Plant Scientists earning $90,370 in Missouri has the equivalent purchasing power of $99,198 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,760 | $50,230 | +$4,470 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $70,440 | $77,321 | +$6,881 |
| Median (P50) | $90,370 | $99,198 | +$8,828 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $108,590 | $119,198 | +$10,608 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $128,800 | $141,383 | +$12,583 |
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Missouri earns $90,370 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $99,198 in an average-cost state. This makes Missouri one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Soil and Plant Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Missouri ranks #4 out of 49 states for Soil and Plant Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Soil and Plant Scientists take-home pay in Missouri after taxes →
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Missouri earns a median salary of $90,370 per year. After adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (RPP=91.1), the real purchasing power is $99,198 — a +9.8% difference.
Missouri's cost of living is 8.9% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Missouri is 91.1 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Soil and Plant Scientists in Missouri: $90,370 x (100 / 91.1) = $99,198. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Soil and Plant Scientists in Missouri enjoys 9.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.