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What does a Soil and Plant Scientists salary really buy you in Missouri?
Missouri is 8.9% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.1, meaning prices are 8.9% lower the national average. A Soil and Plant Scientists earning $76,080 in Missouri has the equivalent purchasing power of $83,512 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) | $46,710 | $51,273 | +$4,563 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,150 | $56,147 | +$4,997 |
| Median (P50) | $76,080 | $83,512 | +$7,432 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $100,620 | $110,450 | +$9,830 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $135,760 | $149,023 | +$13,263 |
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Missouri earns $76,080 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $83,512 in an average-cost state. This makes Missouri one of the best value states for this occupation.
Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.1 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.9% less than the national average. For a Soil and Plant Scientists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Missouri's RPP, the $76,080 median salary translates to $83,513 in real terms — a 9.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Soil and Plant Scientists.
Missouri sits at #12 of 46 states for Soil and Plant Scientists COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Soil and Plant Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Missouri ranks #12 out of 46 states for Soil and Plant Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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 $76,080 per year. After adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (RPP=91.1), the real purchasing power is $83,512 — 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: $76,080 x (100 / 91.1) = $83,512. 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.
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