Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Modesto, CA is $81,570/year ($39.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $146K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $78,350 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,758/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $82K get you in Modesto?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). 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 Modesto
Soil and plant scientists pay in Modesto tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,758/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for soil and plant scientists in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $96K | $87K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $82K | $73K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $98K | $92K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $86K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $146K or more, a $102K 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 Modesto numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,645/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Modesto?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Modesto pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $81,570 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,080, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $146,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,171/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 34% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a soil and plant scientists salary go in Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median soil and plant scientists salary is worth about $78,350 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.