Soil and Plant Scientists Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $74,010/year ($35.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $75,853 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 34.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $74K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About soil and plant scientists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $101K | +41% | 60 |
| Idaho | $90K | +27% | 430 |
| Maine | $88K | +24% | 60 |
| Connecticut | $88K | +23% | 170 |
| New Jersey | $85K | +19% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $85K | +18% | N/A |
| Washington | $82K | +15% | 610 |
| California | $81K | +13% | 1,710 |
| Indiana | $80K | +12% | 520 |
| Mississippi | $80K | +12% | 60 |
| Oregon | $79K | +11% | 490 |
| Ohio | $79K | +11% | 270 |
| Florida | $78K | +9% | 290 |
| Wyoming | $78K | +9% | 60 |
| Nevada | $77K | +8% | 40 |
| Georgia | $75K | +5% | 470 |
| Maryland | $75K | +5% | 250 |
| Louisiana | $75K | +4% | 60 |
| Montana | $74K | +4% | 250 |
| Utah | $73K | +2% | 70 |
| Iowa | $72K | +1% | 770 |
| Virginia | $71K | -1% | 220 |
| Missouri | $70K | -1% | 250 |
| New York | $70K | -2% | 200 |
| Alabama | $69K | -3% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $68K | -4% | 640 |
| North Carolina | $68K | -4% | 620 |
| Nebraska | $67K | -6% | 770 |
| New Mexico | $66K | -8% | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | -9% | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $64K | -10% | N/A |
| Delaware | $64K | -10% | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -11% | 650 |
| Kentucky | $64K | -11% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $63K | -11% | 260 |
| Kansas | $63K | -12% | 340 |
| Vermont | $62K | -13% | N/A |
| South Dakota | $62K | -13% | 400 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -13% | 380 |
| Michigan | $62K | -14% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -14% | 140 |
| Illinois | $61K | -15% | N/A |
| Arizona | $53K | -26% | 340 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -28% | 240 |
| West Virginia | $43K | -40% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $74,010 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,510, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $127,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,760/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 35.9% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $75,853 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.