Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $179,120 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in San Jose earn between $91,670 and $154,880.
- $58K10th
- $92K25th
- $117KMedian
- $155K75th
- $179K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,130 | $10,178 | $58.72 |
| Median | $116,660 | $9,722 | $56.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,670 | $7,639 | $44.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $154,880 | $12,907 | $74.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in San Jose earn 23% more than the California average ($99,260) and 39% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +48% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $122,130 | $116,660 | $58,050 | $179,120 | 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 San Jose
On the average salary of $122,130, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $87,476 a year, or $7,290 a month and $3,364 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 Jose a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $122,130 buys what about $110,602 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 13.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 2nd 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 San Jose: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in San Jose?
$58.72 an hour on average, and $56.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $87,476 a year ($7,290 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 39% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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