Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Idaho is $95,150/year ($45.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $101,353 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $95K get you in Idaho?
About soil and plant scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Idaho
Idaho sits well above the national pay line for soil and plant scientists, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 19.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Idaho offers a genuinely strong financial position for soil and plant scientistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in Idaho
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $91K | -5% | 290 |
| Idaho Falls | $84K | -12% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 19.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,506/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Idaho?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $95K here vs. $79K nationally.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Idaho pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Idaho?
The median is $95,150 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,440, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $167,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,906/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 19.2% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $101,353 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.