Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,560 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Portland earn between $73,740 and $106,300.
- $63K10th
- $74K25th
- $95KMedian
- $106K75th
- $134K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,490 | $7,874 | $45.43 |
| Median | $94,940 | $7,912 | $45.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,740 | $6,145 | $35.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,300 | $8,858 | $51.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Portland earn 6% more than the Oregon average ($89,040) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $94,490 | $94,940 | $63,490 | $133,560 | 250 |
| Oregon | $89,040 | $85,150 | $63,960 | $117,000 | 620 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $94,490, a single filer in Portland takes home about $68,337 a year, or $5,695 a month and $2,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $75,304 | $6,275 |
| Working in OR | $68,337 | $5,695 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for soil and plant scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $94,490 buys what about $89,631 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Portland?
$45.43 an hour on average, and $45.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Portland?
About $68,337 a year ($5,695 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,490. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.00, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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