Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Connecticut is $67,630/year ($32.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $65,737 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,679/month, about 38% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Connecticut. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $68K get you in Connecticut?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Connecticut
Pay for soil and plant scientists in Connecticut runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $79K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,679/month, which is 38.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for soil and plant scientistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Connecticut
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in Connecticut
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | $87K | +29% | 90 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $73K | +8% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 38.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,418/month. At HUD’s $1,679/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Connecticut?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $68K here vs. $79K nationally.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Connecticut pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Connecticut?
The median is $67,630 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,970, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $130,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,391/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 38.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a soil and plant scientists salary go in Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median soil and plant scientists salary is worth about $65,737 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.