Soil and Plant Scientists Salary in San Jose, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Median annual salary $105,260 +47.4% vs national
Median hourly $50.61
10th percentile $56,160
90th percentile $166,270
Employed locally 70
National median $71,410

Compare Soil and Plant Scientists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Jose, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Soil and Plant Scientists
in
San Jose, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $56,160
    25th
    $82,880
    50th (median)
    $105,260
    75th
    $135,020
    90th
    $166,270

    San Jose economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $157,444 2023 • Census ACS
    Soil and Plant Scientists salary vs area income 67% Median Soil and Plant Scientists salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Soil and Plant Scientists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Modesto, CA $113,340
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $103,620
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $101,250
    District of Columbia $100,820
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $100,490
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $100,370

    Nearby metros — Soil and Plant Scientists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Modesto, CA $113,340
    Salinas, CA $97,760
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $96,540
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $96,480
    Fresno, CA $94,580
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $91,170

    Related occupations in San Jose, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$155,990
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$132,230
    Biological Scientists, All Other$132,630
    Biological Technicians$71,920
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$101,520
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$75,670

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Soil and Plant Scientists make per hour in San Jose?

    The median hourly wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in San Jose, CA is $50.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $86.12 or more per hour.

    Is San Jose above or below average for Soil and Plant Scientists salaries?

    The median Soil and Plant Scientists salary in San Jose, CA is 47.4% above the national median of $71,410. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Soil and Plant Scientists in San Jose?

    Entry-level Soil and Plant Scientists (10th percentile) earn around $56,160 per year in San Jose, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $82,880.