Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $170,710 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in San Francisco earn between $85,200 and $170,700.
- $77K10th
- $85K25th
- $108KMedian
- $171K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,130 | $10,344 | $59.68 |
| Median | $108,200 | $9,017 | $52.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,200 | $7,100 | $40.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $170,700 | $14,225 | $82.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in San Francisco earn 25% more than the California average ($99,260) and 42% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +37% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $124,130 | $108,200 | $77,130 | $170,710 | 140 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $124,130, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $88,657 a year, or $7,388 a month and $3,410 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 San Francisco a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $124,130 buys what about $107,367 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 13 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 San Francisco: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in San Francisco?
$59.68 an hour on average, and $52.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $88,657 a year ($7,388 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 42% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.0%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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