Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $144,760 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Riverside earn between $72,860 and $117,080.
- $44K10th
- $73K25th
- $95KMedian
- $117K75th
- $145K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,280 | $8,107 | $46.77 |
| Median | $94,900 | $7,908 | $45.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,860 | $6,072 | $35.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,080 | $9,757 | $56.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Riverside earn about the same as the California average ($99,260) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $97,280 | $94,900 | $43,830 | $144,760 | 70 |
| California | $99,260 | $91,930 | $49,350 | $154,830 | 1,440 |
| 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 Riverside
On the average salary of $97,280, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $72,311 a year, or $6,026 a month and $2,781 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Riverside a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $97,280 buys what about $91,392 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 8th of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($124,130).
- San Francisco$124,130
- San Jose$122,130
- Salinas$111,560
- Sacramento$104,560
- Oxnard$102,940
- Fresno$99,990
- Napa$98,710
- Riverside$97,280
- Santa Rosa$91,990
- San Diego$91,680
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 Riverside: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Riverside?
$46.77 an hour on average, and $45.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Riverside?
About $72,311 a year ($6,026 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,280. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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