Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,080 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Lafayette earn between $79,250 and $136,550.
- $67K10th
- $79K25th
- $86KMedian
- $137K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,960 | $8,913 | $51.42 |
| Median | $86,380 | $7,198 | $41.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,250 | $6,604 | $38.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,550 | $11,379 | $65.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Lafayette earn 16% more than the Indiana average ($92,030) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $106,960 | $86,380 | $66,790 | $171,080 | 30 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $106,960, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $79,541 a year, or $6,628 a month and $3,059 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 Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Is Lafayette a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $106,960 buys what about $114,481 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($48,780). A typical home costs $286,179, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Indiana cities
Lafayette ranks 1st of 2 Indiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Lafayette: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Lafayette?
$51.42 an hour on average, and $41.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $79,541 a year ($6,628 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,960. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- 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 Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.19, this job is 3.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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