Earnings
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median earnings in May 2023 for soil and plant scientists were $68,240. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $43,790 and the highest paid 10 percent made more than $119,410. Mean salaries for soil scientists at federal agencies were higher; in May 2023, they made an average of $93,710 a year. Government earnings depend in large part on levels of experience and education. Other than short-term research projects, most jobs offer health and retirement benefits in addition to the annual salary.
Related Professions
- Agribusiness Technicians
- Agricultural Consultants
- Agricultural Equipment Technicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Agricultural Scientists
- Air Quality Engineers
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Physical Therapists
- Aquaculturists
- Aquarists
- Arborists
- Archaeologists
- Archivists
- Astrogeologists
- Beekeepers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Botanists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Cartographers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Civil Engineers
- Climate Scientists
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Dairy Products Manufacturing Workers
- Drug Developers
- Ecologists
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Environmental Economists
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- Environmental Technicians
- EPA Special Agents
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Farm Crop Production Technicians
- Farm Equipment Mechanics
- Farmers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Fishers
- Food Technologists
- Forensic Experts
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Forest Fire Prevention Specialists
- Foresters
- Forestry Technicians
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Scientists
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geographers
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Energy Industry Workers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Grain Merchants
- Green Builders
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Green Transportation Careers
- Grounds Managers
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Historians
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Horticultural Technicians
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Incident Meteorologists
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Industrial Ecologists
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Landscape Architects
- Landscapers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Marine Biologists
- Meatcutters and Meat Packers
- Meteorologists
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Microbiologists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- National Park Service Employees
- Naturalists
- Nursery Owners and Managers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Oceanographers
- Organic Farmers
- Paleontologists
- Paper Processing Workers
- Park Rangers
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Range Managers
- Recreation Workers
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers
- Recycling Coordinators
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
- Remote Sensing Technicians
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Rewilders
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Space Meteorologist
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toxicologists
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Technicians
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Wildland Firefighters
- Wood Science and Technology Workers
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors
- Zoologists