Soil and Plant Scientists Salary
The median pay for a soil and plant scientists in South Dakota is $73,590/year ($35.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $81,867 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in South Dakota?
About soil and plant scientists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Soil and plant scientists pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level soil and plant scientists (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $73K | -0% | 150 |
| Rapid City | $73K | -0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track soil and plant scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a soil and plant scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for soil and plant scientists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new soil and plant scientists typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,119/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for soil and plant scientists?
South Dakota pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do soil and plant scientists make in South Dakota?
The median is $73,590 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,980, and experienced soil and plant scientists can clear $120,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,013/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 20.3% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $81,867 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.