Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $148,140 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Sacramento earn between $83,180 and $123,960.
- $67K10th
- $83K25th
- $98KMedian
- $124K75th
- $148K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,560 | $8,713 | $50.27 |
| Median | $98,340 | $8,195 | $47.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,180 | $6,932 | $39.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,960 | $10,330 | $59.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Sacramento earn 5% more than the California average ($99,260) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $104,560 | $98,340 | $66,570 | $148,140 | 190 |
| 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 Sacramento
On the average salary of $104,560, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $76,756 a year, or $6,396 a month and $2,952 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 Sacramento a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $104,560 buys what about $98,022 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 4th 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 Sacramento: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Sacramento?
$50.27 an hour on average, and $47.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $76,756 a year ($6,396 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,560. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.72, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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