Highest-paying cities for soil and plant scientists
Des Moines, IA leads at $132,290 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | $132,290 | $81,000–$161,840 |
| San Jose, CA | $116,660 | $91,670–$154,880 |
| Salinas, CA | $115,910 | $84,120–$136,640 |
| San Francisco, CA | $108,200 | $85,200–$170,700 |
| Orlando, FL | $106,410 | $50,900–$125,250 |
| Napa, CA | $104,120 | $71,270–$114,400 |
| Miami, FL | $103,740 | $82,530–$103,740 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $101,660 | $52,890–$112,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,050 | $77,820–$120,040 |
| Kennewick, WA | $99,110 | $83,100–$128,140 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,340 | $83,180–$123,960 |
| Washington, DC | $95,870 | $79,230–$128,610 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $94,980 | $57,380–$129,380 |
| Portland, OR | $94,940 | $73,740–$106,300 |
| Riverside, CA | $94,900 | $72,860–$117,080 |
| Salem, OR | $93,620 | $73,740–$98,110 |
| Boise City, ID | $90,610 | $66,870–$111,700 |
| New Haven, CT | $87,110 | $58,820–$105,140 |
| Durham, NC | $86,570 | $62,550–$116,120 |
| Lafayette, IN | $86,380 | $79,250–$136,550 |
| San Diego, CA | $86,330 | $73,110–$104,600 |
| Bismarck, ND | $86,110 | $62,570–$99,500 |
| New York, NY | $84,740 | $72,760–$104,910 |
| Iowa City, IA | $84,360 | $64,670–$128,690 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $83,780 | $63,130–$106,590 |
| Detroit, MI | $83,370 | $59,480–$90,010 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $82,510 | $46,190–$117,260 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $82,490 | $59,290–$90,150 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $82,490 | $67,910–$97,450 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $82,110 | $71,380–$95,600 |
| Modesto, CA | $81,570 | $46,550–$114,410 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $81,570 | $51,920–$106,720 |
| Corvallis, OR | $81,420 | $64,180–$95,740 |
| Missoula, MT | $81,350 | $66,030–$101,330 |
| Omaha, NE | $81,300 | $49,020–$103,180 |
| Chicago, IL | $80,360 | $62,590–$110,470 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $80,030 | $72,710–$130,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $79,610 | $65,120–$106,630 |
| New Orleans, LA | $78,870 | $60,200–$91,170 |
| Raleigh, NC | $78,020 | $67,030–$101,800 |
| Charleston, SC | $77,090 | $58,170–$97,460 |
| St. Louis, MO | $76,790 | $55,470–$100,790 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $76,400 | $69,480–$89,270 |
| Charlotte, NC | $76,330 | $50,800–$99,720 |
| Wichita, KS | $74,440 | $40,830–$125,230 |
| Greensboro, NC | $74,280 | $60,360–$103,970 |
| Richmond, VA | $73,920 | $68,080–$77,230 |
| Madison, WI | $73,510 | $67,730–$86,260 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $73,320 | $51,980–$100,400 |
| Rapid City, SD | $73,310 | $57,330–$102,530 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.