Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $175,640 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Indianapolis earn between $72,710 and $130,400.
- $47K10th
- $73K25th
- $80KMedian
- $130K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,250 | $8,271 | $47.72 |
| Median | $80,030 | $6,669 | $38.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,710 | $6,059 | $34.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,400 | $10,867 | $62.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Indianapolis earn 8% more than the Indiana average ($92,030) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $99,250 | $80,030 | $46,870 | $175,640 | 110 |
| Indiana | $92,030 | $80,030 | $57,000 | $154,990 | 440 |
| United States | $87,720 | $78,850 | $48,680 | $138,120 | 15,730 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $99,250, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $73,720 a year, or $6,143 a month and $2,835 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $99,250 buys what about $103,714 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 2nd of 2 Indiana metro areas for this job; Lafayette pays the most ($106,960).
- Lafayette$106,960
- Indianapolis$99,250
Highest-paying cities for soil and plant scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($124,130).
- San Francisco, CA$124,130
- Des Moines, IA$123,060
- San Jose, CA$122,130
- Salinas, CA$111,560
- Washington, DC$107,020
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Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Indianapolis?
$47.72 an hour on average, and $38.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $73,720 a year ($6,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,250. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($87,720).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1013; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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