Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,070 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Madison earn between $67,730 and $86,260.
- $54K10th
- $68K25th
- $74KMedian
- $86K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,390 | $6,282 | $36.25 |
| Median | $73,510 | $6,126 | $35.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,730 | $5,644 | $32.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,260 | $7,188 | $41.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Madison earn 10% more than the Wisconsin average ($68,620) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $75,390 | $73,510 | $53,760 | $98,070 | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $68,620 | $66,200 | $44,620 | $89,190 | 680 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $75,390, a single filer in Madison takes home about $58,900 a year, or $4,908 a month and $2,265 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $75,390 buys what about $77,492 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 4 Wisconsin 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 Madison: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Madison?
$36.25 an hour on average, and $35.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Madison?
About $58,900 a year ($4,908 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,390.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 5.21, this job is 5.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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