Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,250 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Chicago earn between $62,590 and $110,470.
- $45K10th
- $63K25th
- $80KMedian
- $110K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,380 | $7,282 | $42.01 |
| Median | $80,360 | $6,697 | $38.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,590 | $5,216 | $30.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $110,470 | $9,206 | $53.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($89,520) and about the same as the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $87,380 | $80,360 | $44,700 | $135,250 | 240 |
| Illinois | $89,520 | $79,490 | $48,160 | $141,510 | 820 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $87,380, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $66,118 a year, or $5,510 a month and $2,543 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $67,710 | $5,643 |
| Working in IL | $66,118 | $5,510 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $87,380 buys what about $84,348 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$87,380
- Champaign$77,140
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 Chicago: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$42.01 an hour on average, and $38.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $66,118 a year ($5,510 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,380.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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