Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Nebraska is $77,500/year ($37.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $86,063 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Nebraska?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Soil and plant scientists pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in Nebraska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $81K | +5% | 120 |
| Lincoln | $64K | -18% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,402/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Nebraska pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Nebraska?
The median is $77,500 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,030, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $121,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,959/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $86,063 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.