Soil and Plant Scientists · Illinois

Soil and Plant Scientists Salary in Illinois

Soil and Plant Scientists in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $79,490 —0.8% above the national median of $78,850. That ranks IL #15 of 46 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$79,490
Median hourly
$38.21
Entry level (P10)
$48,160
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$141,510
90th percentile
Employment
820
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+0.8%
U.S. $78,850

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$48,160
$62,690
$79,490
$107,280
$48,160$79,490$141,510
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $79,490.

Employment is 1.33× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for soil and plant scientists

All 46 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$107,140$51.51600.79
2Florida$103,240$49.642700.27
3Alaska$100,320$48.23300.92
4Iowa$96,310$46.309606.07
5Idaho$95,150$45.755406.19
6New Jersey$91,970$44.221300.30
7California$91,930$44.201,4400.78
8Oregon$85,150$40.946203.12
9Maryland$85,020$40.872000.70
10Hawaii$84,390$40.57600.99

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do soil and plant scientists make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for soil and plant scientists in Illinois is $79,490, or $38.21 per hour. That is 0.8% above the national median of $78,850.

What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $48,160 per year ($23.16/hour). The 25th percentile is $62,690.

How many people work as soil and plant scientists in Illinois?

About 820 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for soil and plant scientists?

Illinois ranks #15 of 46 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.33x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays soil and plant scientists the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $107,140 per year, followed by Florida ($103,240) and Alaska ($100,320).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes