Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,320 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Durham earn between $62,550 and $116,120.
- $40K10th
- $63K25th
- $87KMedian
- $116K75th
- $134K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,370 | $7,531 | $43.45 |
| Median | $86,570 | $7,214 | $41.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,550 | $5,212 | $30.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $116,120 | $9,677 | $55.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Durham earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($85,790) and 3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $90,370 | $86,570 | $39,990 | $134,320 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $85,790 | $76,330 | $47,430 | $136,830 | 570 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $90,370, a single filer in Durham takes home about $69,308 a year, or $5,776 a month and $2,666 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $90,370 buys what about $92,619 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 4 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$90,370
- Greensboro$88,830
- Raleigh$87,880
- Charlotte$84,650
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 Durham: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Durham?
$43.45 an hour on average, and $41.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Durham?
About $69,308 a year ($5,776 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,370.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.02, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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