Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in Rapid City, SD is $73,310/year ($35.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers.
So what does $73K get you in Rapid City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rapid City’s Regional Price Parity (89.2). 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 Rapid City
Soil and plant scientists pay in Rapid City tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,336/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.2 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for soil and plant scientists in metros near Rapid City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $73K | , |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $132K | , |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $80K | , |
| Fargo | $65K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rapid City, SD
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $68K 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
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 Rapid City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rapid City?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,336/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in Rapid City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,169/month. At HUD’s $1,336/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Rapid City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
Rapid City pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $73,310 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,820, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $120,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,997/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Rapid City?
Rapid City has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median soil and plant scientists salary is worth about $82,186 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.