Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $104,400 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Fargo earn between $53,590 and $82,030.
- $54K10th
- $54K25th
- $65KMedian
- $82K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,140 | $5,928 | $34.20 |
| Median | $65,320 | $5,443 | $31.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,590 | $4,466 | $25.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,030 | $6,836 | $39.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Fargo earn 8% less than the North Dakota average ($77,170) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $71,140 | $65,320 | $53,590 | $104,400 | 230 |
| North Dakota | $77,170 | $65,320 | $53,590 | $117,010 | 410 |
| 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 Fargo
On the average salary of $71,140, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $58,770 a year, or $4,898 a month and $2,260 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $58,770 | $4,898 |
| Working in MN | $55,563 | $4,630 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $71,140 buys what about $78,287 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 2nd of 2 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Bismarck pays the most ($81,970).
- Bismarck$81,970
- Fargo$71,140
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 Fargo: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Fargo?
$34.20 an hour on average, and $31.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Fargo?
About $58,770 a year ($4,898 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,140.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less 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 Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 15.01, this job is 15.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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