Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Auburn-Opelika, AL is $61,840/year ($29.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.93), which stretches that salary to about $70,329 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $995/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $62K get you in Auburn-Opelika?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Auburn-Opelika’s Regional Price Parity (87.93). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Auburn-Opelika
Pay for soil and plant scientists in Auburn-Opelika runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $995/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Auburn-Opelika can be a reasonable trade-off for soil and plant scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for soil and plant scientists in metros near Auburn-Opelika, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $62K | $62K |
| Knoxville | $51K | $55K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $104K | $91K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $50K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Auburn-Opelika, AL
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Soil and Plant Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107K | +36% | 60 |
| Florida | $103K | +31% | 270 |
| Alaska | $100K | +27% | 30 |
| Iowa | $96K | +22% | 960 |
| Idaho | $95K | +21% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $92K | +17% | 130 |
| California | $92K | +17% | 1,440 |
| Oregon | $85K | +8% | 620 |
| Maryland | $85K | +8% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $84K | +7% | 60 |
| Arizona | $84K | +6% | 270 |
| Indiana | $80K | +1% | 440 |
| Washington | $80K | +1% | 520 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +1% | 750 |
| Illinois | $79K | +1% | 820 |
| South Carolina | $79K | +0% | 90 |
| Maine | $78K | -1% | 30 |
| New York | $78K | -1% | 260 |
| Nebraska | $78K | -2% | 640 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -3% | 570 |
| Missouri | $76K | -4% | 220 |
| Colorado | $75K | -4% | 460 |
| Montana | $74K | -6% | 230 |
| Virginia | $74K | -6% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $74K | -7% | 480 |
| Mississippi | $73K | -8% | 100 |
| Nevada | $71K | -9% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $71K | -11% | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $70K | -11% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $69K | -12% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $68K | -14% | 200 |
| Kentucky | $67K | -15% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -16% | 680 |
| Kansas | $66K | -17% | 380 |
| Michigan | $65K | -17% | 570 |
| North Dakota | $65K | -17% | 410 |
| Delaware | $65K | -17% | 60 |
| Georgia | $65K | -17% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -19% | 100 |
| Alabama | $63K | -20% | 110 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -21% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 170 |
| Utah | $60K | -24% | 90 |
| Vermont | $58K | -26% | N/A |
| Ohio | $57K | -28% | 320 |
| Wyoming | $56K | -29% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Auburn-Opelika numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $995/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Auburn-Opelika?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,040/month. At HUD’s $995/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is soil and plant scientist a high-paying job in Auburn-Opelika?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $62K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Auburn-Opelika compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Auburn-Opelika pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median is $61,840 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,660, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $106,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Auburn-Opelika?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,067/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $995/month, which eats 24.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a soil and plant scientists salary go in Auburn-Opelika?
Auburn-Opelika has a Regional Price Parity of 87.93 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median soil and plant scientists salary is worth about $70,329 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do soil and plant scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.