How much does a plant scientist make?
a year · about $38 an hour
A typical plant scientist in the United States makes $78,850 a year, about $38 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They may walk fields to check crops and collect soil samples, then test samples or run experiments in a lab. They study the results and share findings with farmers, other scientists, or the public.
Did you know? A quarter-teaspoon of soil can contain about a billion bacterial cells and several miles of tiny fungal threads!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $48,680 and $138,120How do you become one?
In the U.S., start with a bachelor’s degree in plant biology, agriculture, or a related field; some research jobs prefer or require a master’s or Ph.D. Some plant- or soil-science roles need a state license, which may require supervised work and an exam.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, in-demand skills, extra degrees, or state licenses. Location and the employer—such as a government agency, university, or research company—also make a difference.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Iowa ($96,310), lowest in Michigan ($65,390).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,680 | $78,850 | $138,120 | about 16,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $96,310 | about 960 |
| Idaho | $95,150 | about 540 |
| California | $91,930 | about 1,000 |
| Oregon | $85,150 | about 620 |
| Washington | $79,970 | about 520 |
Official definition: Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/agricultural-and-food-scientist
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes191013.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1013.00
- www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-09/careers-in-soil-and-plant-science.
- research.ucdavis.edu/uncovering-hidden-life-soil-2
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY