Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,620 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Philadelphia earn between $52,120 and $77,990.
- $41K10th
- $52K25th
- $64KMedian
- $78K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,560 | $5,963 | $34.40 |
| Median | $64,070 | $5,339 | $30.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,120 | $4,343 | $25.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,990 | $6,499 | $37.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Philadelphia earn 9% less than the Pennsylvania average ($78,720) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $71,560 | $64,070 | $41,070 | $107,620 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,720 | $70,550 | $46,750 | $124,560 | 200 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $71,560, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $56,976 a year, or $4,748 a month and $2,191 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $56,976 | $4,748 |
| Working in NJ | $56,767 | $4,731 |
| Working in MD | $55,985 | $4,665 |
| Working in DE | $55,680 | $4,640 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $71,560 buys what about $69,778 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$66,750
- New York, NY$93,580
- Washington, DC$107,020
- New Haven, CT$86,670
- Hartford, CT$84,790
- Richmond, VA$77,150
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$34.41 an hour on average, and $30.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $56,976 a year ($4,748 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,560. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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