SOC 19-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Soil and Plant Scientists — Fargo
Fargo, ND-MN · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Fargo, ND is $65,320 a year, trailing the national median of $78,850 by 17.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Fargo, ND is $65,320 a year, trailing the national median of $78,850 by 17.2%. Half of workers earn between $53,590 and $82,030. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $53,590 and the ninetieth at $104,400.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.5 of every thousand jobs. Bismarck leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $86,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 150th of 408 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,590 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $53,590 | −32.0% |
| Median (50th) | $65,320 | −17.2% |
| 75th | $82,030 | +4.0% |
| 90th | $104,400 | +32.4% |
| Mean | $71,140 | −9.8% |
Other metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bismarck | $86,110 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fargo run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $65,320 goes as far as $73,393 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$65,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,393US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $65,320 a year, 17.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,590 to $104,400 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bismarck, at $86,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Fargo, ND?
The median annual wage is $65,320, or $31.41 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 Fargo, ND is 17.2% 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 Fargo, ND earns more than $104,400 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,590 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bismarck, at $86,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Fargo, ND. 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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