Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,270 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Knoxville earn between $46,890 and $61,950.
- $47K10th
- $47K25th
- $51KMedian
- $62K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,140 | $5,262 | $30.36 |
| Median | $51,110 | $4,259 | $24.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,890 | $3,908 | $22.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,950 | $5,162 | $29.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Knoxville earn 13% less than the Tennessee average ($72,540) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $63,140 | $51,110 | $46,890 | $83,270 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $72,540 | $61,950 | $45,510 | $103,620 | 370 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $63,140, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $52,913 a year, or $4,409 a month and $2,035 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $63,140 buys what about $68,209 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($78,840).
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Knoxville?
$30.36 an hour on average, and $24.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $52,913 a year ($4,409 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,140. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.81, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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