Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in New Mexico is $69,480/year ($33.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $74,662 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in New Mexico?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for soil and plant scientists in New Mexico runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, New Mexico can be a reasonable trade-off for soil and plant scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $76K | +10% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,134/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Mexico?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $69K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
New Mexico pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in New Mexico?
The median is $69,480 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,240, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $102,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,571/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 24.5% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $74,662 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.