SOC 19-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Soil and Plant Scientists — Charleston
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
The median wage here is $77,090 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,850.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $77,090 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,850. Half of workers earn between $58,170 and $97,460. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,750 and the ninetieth at $128,670.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.92 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 150th of 513 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,750 | −38.2% |
| 25th | $58,170 | −26.2% |
| Median (50th) | $77,090 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $97,460 | +23.6% |
| 90th | $128,670 | +63.2% |
| Mean | $83,490 | +5.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $77,090 goes as far as $82,273 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$77,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$82,273US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $77,090 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,750 to $128,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Charleston, SC?
The median annual wage is $77,090, or $37.06 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $78,850, so pay in Charleston, SC is 2.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Charleston, SC earns more than $128,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,750 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, SC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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