Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Indiana is $80,030/year ($38.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $87,169 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Indiana?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Indiana
Soil and plant scientists pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 22.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in Indiana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $86K | +8% | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $80K | +0% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,420/month. At HUD’s $1,144/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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Indiana pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Indiana?
The median is $80,030 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,000, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $154,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,187/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 22.1% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $87,169 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.