Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Ohio is $56,820/year ($27.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $62,132 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Ohio?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for soil and plant scientists in Ohio runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in Ohio
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $61K | +7% | 50 |
| Cleveland | $58K | +2% | 80 |
| Cincinnati | $56K | -1% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,349/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $57K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Ohio pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Ohio?
The median is $56,820 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,150, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $103,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,903/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 30.4% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $62,132 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.