Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in New Jersey is $91,970/year ($44.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $92,581 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $92K get you in New Jersey?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for soil and plant scientists, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $78K 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 New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,085/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $92K here vs. $79K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
New Jersey pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in New Jersey?
The median is $91,970 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,420, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $128,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,780/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 35.8% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $92,581 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.