Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Louisiana is $60,200/year ($28.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $68,973 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Louisiana?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for soil and plant scientists in Louisiana runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $79K | +31% | 50 |
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Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,122/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $60K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Louisiana pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Louisiana?
The median is $60,200 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,360, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $106,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,036/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $68,973 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.