Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Missoula
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,360 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Missoula earn between $66,030 and $101,330.
- $59K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $101K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,900 | $6,908 | $39.86 |
| Median | $81,350 | $6,779 | $39.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,030 | $5,502 | $31.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,330 | $8,444 | $48.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Missoula vs. Montana and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Missoula earn 7% more than the Montana average ($77,540) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $82,900 | $81,350 | $59,230 | $101,360 | 30 |
| Montana | $77,540 | $73,920 | $58,290 | $105,580 | 230 |
| 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 Missoula
On the average salary of $82,900, a single filer in Missoula takes home about $63,827 a year, or $5,319 a month and $2,455 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Missoula a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Missoula area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $82,900 buys what about $85,956 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Missoula ($47,830). A typical home costs $580,429, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Montana cities
Missoula ranks 1st of 2 Montana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Missoula$82,900
- Bozeman$70,640
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 Missoula: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Missoula?
$39.86 an hour on average, and $39.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Missoula?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Missoula?
About $63,827 a year ($5,319 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,900.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Missoula than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Missoula, MT (33540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.44, this job is 4.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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