Soil and Plant Scientists: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary (2024)

How does Soil and Plant Scientists salary grow from entry-level to senior? National salary progression based on 49 states with BLS data.

139% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • National averages across 49 states • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$47,084
$3,924/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$70,591
$5,883/mo
Senior (P90)
$112,457
$9,371/mo

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for Soil and Plant Scientists spans from $47,084 at entry-level to $112,457 at senior level — a difference of $65,373 per year.

P10
$47K
P25
$56K
Median
$70K
P75
$89K
P90
$112K

Career Growth Premium: +139%

Senior Soil and Plant Scientistss earn $65,373 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$65,373
Monthly Difference
+$5,448
Hourly Difference
+$31.43
Growth Multiple
2.4x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Complete percentile breakdown showing how Soil and Plant Scientists salary increases with experience, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $47,084 $3,924 $22.64
Early Career P25 $56,598 $4,716 $27.21
Mid-Career Median $70,591 $5,883 $33.94
Experienced P75 $89,489 $7,457 $43.02
Senior / Expert P90 $112,457 $9,371 $54.07
Key Insight

Soil and Plant Scientists shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $47,084, while senior-level professionals earn $112,457 — a 139% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($70,591) and experienced level ($89,489), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.

Top States for Senior Soil and Plant Scientists Pay

Which states pay the highest senior-level salaries for Soil and Plant Scientists? Top 10 states ranked by 90th percentile (senior) pay.

1
$173,330
Entry: $40K
+326%
2
$164,280
Entry: $52K
+213%
3
$158,830
Entry: $45K
+252%
4
$152,970
Entry: $48K
+212%
5
$151,770
Entry: $47K
+220%
6
$145,600
Entry: $68K
+114%
7
$134,100
Entry: $41K
+220%
8
$132,220
Entry: $51K
+157%
9
$131,890
Entry: $26K
+390%
10
$129,810
Entry: $56K
+132%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entry-level salary for a Soil and Plant Scientists?

Entry-level Soil and Plant Scientistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $47,084 per year, or $3,923 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $56,598. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.

How much does a senior Soil and Plant Scientists make?

Senior Soil and Plant Scientistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $112,457 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $89,489. This represents a career premium of 139% over entry-level pay.

What is the salary growth potential for a Soil and Plant Scientists?

The career salary growth potential for Soil and Plant Scientistss is 139%. Entry-level professionals start at $47,084, while senior-level can earn up to $112,457 — a difference of $65,373 per year.

Which state pays the highest salary for senior Soil and Plant Scientistss?

The highest-paying state for senior Soil and Plant Scientistss is Georgia, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $173,330 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.

How are entry-level and senior Soil and Plant Scientists salaries determined?

We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.

Related Salary Pages

About This Data

Salary percentile data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. National averages are computed across 49 states and the District of Columbia. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. Actual salaries vary based on location, employer, experience, education, and certifications.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

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