Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Iowa City, IA is $84,360/year ($40.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers.
So what does $84K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.5). 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 Iowa City
Soil and plant scientists pay in Iowa City tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $923/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.5 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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 Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $132K | , |
| Ames | $65K | , |
| Cedar Rapids | $95K | , |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $80K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $113K 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
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 Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $923/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,202/month. At HUD’s $923/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is soil and plant scientist a high-paying job in Iowa City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Iowa City pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.5), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $84,360 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,360, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $166,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,279/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $923/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median soil and plant scientists salary is worth about $92,197 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.