Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in North Dakota is $65,320/year ($31.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $73,484 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 23.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in North Dakota?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for soil and plant scientists in North Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for soil and plant scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $86K | +32% | 40 |
| Fargo | $65K | +0% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,215/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 North Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $65K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
North Dakota pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in North Dakota?
The median is $65,320 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,590, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $117,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,422/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 23.4% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $73,484 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.