Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,020 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Memphis earn between $47,880 and $104,330.
- $48K10th
- $48K25th
- $66KMedian
- $104K75th
- $140K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,840 | $6,570 | $37.90 |
| Median | $66,450 | $5,538 | $31.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,880 | $3,990 | $23.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,330 | $8,694 | $50.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Memphis earn 9% more than the Tennessee average ($72,540) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $78,840 | $66,450 | $47,880 | $140,020 | 30 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $78,840, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $64,294 a year, or $5,358 a month and $2,473 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $64,294 | $5,358 |
| Working in MS | $61,872 | $5,156 |
| Working in AR | $61,864 | $5,155 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $78,840 buys what about $85,529 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 1st of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Memphis: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Memphis?
$37.90 an hour on average, and $31.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Memphis?
About $64,294 a year ($5,358 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,840. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.6%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- 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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