Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL is $106,410/year ($51.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.42), that's roughly $104,920 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,972/month, or 27.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $106K get you in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford’s Regional Price Parity (101.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford sits well above the national pay line for soil and plant scientists, local pay runs about 35% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,972/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.42) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for soil and plant scientists in metros near Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $104K | $91K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $62K | $62K |
| Auburn-Opelika | $62K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Soil and Plant Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107K | +36% | 60 |
| Florida | $103K | +31% | 270 |
| Alaska | $100K | +27% | 30 |
| Iowa | $96K | +22% | 960 |
| Idaho | $95K | +21% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $92K | +17% | 130 |
| California | $92K | +17% | 1,440 |
| Oregon | $85K | +8% | 620 |
| Maryland | $85K | +8% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $84K | +7% | 60 |
| Arizona | $84K | +6% | 270 |
| Indiana | $80K | +1% | 440 |
| Washington | $80K | +1% | 520 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +1% | 750 |
| Illinois | $79K | +1% | 820 |
| South Carolina | $79K | +0% | 90 |
| Maine | $78K | -1% | 30 |
| New York | $78K | -1% | 260 |
| Nebraska | $78K | -2% | 640 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -3% | 570 |
| Missouri | $76K | -4% | 220 |
| Colorado | $75K | -4% | 460 |
| Montana | $74K | -6% | 230 |
| Virginia | $74K | -6% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $74K | -7% | 480 |
| Mississippi | $73K | -8% | 100 |
| Nevada | $71K | -9% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $71K | -11% | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $70K | -11% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $69K | -12% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $68K | -14% | 200 |
| Kentucky | $67K | -15% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -16% | 680 |
| Kansas | $66K | -17% | 380 |
| Michigan | $65K | -17% | 570 |
| North Dakota | $65K | -17% | 410 |
| Delaware | $65K | -17% | 60 |
| Georgia | $65K | -17% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -19% | 100 |
| Alabama | $63K | -20% | 110 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -21% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 170 |
| Utah | $60K | -24% | 90 |
| Vermont | $58K | -26% | N/A |
| Ohio | $57K | -28% | 320 |
| Wyoming | $56K | -29% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 28.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,972/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,666/month. At HUD’s $1,972/month FMR, rent would take 74% 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 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford?
Local pay is 35% above the national median — $106K here vs. $79K nationally.
How does Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL?
The median is $106,410 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,440, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $125,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,937/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,972/month, which eats 28.4% 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 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford?
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford has a Regional Price Parity of 101.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median soil and plant scientists salary is worth about $104,920 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.