Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $86,380/year ($41.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.43), which stretches that salary to about $92,454 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,242/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $86K get you in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette-West Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (93.43). 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette
Soil and plant scientists pay in Lafayette-West Lafayette tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,242/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.43 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $80K | $84K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $80K | $78K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $65K | $69K |
| Champaign-Urbana | $64K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $104K 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 with published data
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 Lafayette-West Lafayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,242/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,007/month. At HUD’s $1,242/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Lafayette-West Lafayette compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Lafayette-West Lafayette pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.43), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median is $86,380 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,790, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $171,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,543/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,242/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Lafayette-West Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 93.43 (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 $92,454 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.