Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Maine is $78,250/year ($37.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $80,092 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maine. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $78K get you in Maine?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Maine
Soil and plant scientists pay in Maine tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,969/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Maine?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Maine compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Maine pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Maine?
The median is $78,250 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,480, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $128,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,946/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 25.9% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $80,092 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.