Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Champaign-Urbana, IL is $64,460/year ($30.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.7), which stretches that salary to about $69,536 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,122/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K get you in Champaign-Urbana?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Champaign-Urbana’s Regional Price Parity (92.7). 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 Champaign-Urbana
Pay for soil and plant scientists in Champaign-Urbana runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,122/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for soil and plant scientists in metros near Champaign-Urbana, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $80K | $78K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $132K | $144K |
| Madison | $74K | $76K |
| Ames | $65K | $73K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $60K 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 Champaign-Urbana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Champaign-Urbana?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,122/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Champaign-Urbana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,300/month. At HUD’s $1,122/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $64K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Champaign-Urbana compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Champaign-Urbana pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median is $64,460 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,000, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $115,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Champaign-Urbana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,212/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,122/month, which eats 26.6% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Champaign-Urbana has a Regional Price Parity of 92.7 (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 $69,536 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.