SOC 19-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Soil and Plant Scientists — Michigan
Michigan · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Michigan is $65,390 a year, trailing the national median of $78,850 by 17.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Michigan is $65,390 a year, trailing the national median of $78,850 by 17.1%. Half of workers earn between $57,360 and $82,870. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $50,640 and the ninetieth at $130,100.
The area has 570 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, Michigan ranks 35th by median wage. Detroit leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $83,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 297th of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,640 | −35.8% |
| 25th | $57,360 | −27.3% |
| Median (50th) | $65,390 | −17.1% |
| 75th | $82,870 | +5.1% |
| 90th | $130,100 | +65.0% |
| Mean | $75,210 | −4.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $83,370 | 80 | |
| 2 | Lansing | $65,390 | 220 | |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | $57,160 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $65,390 goes as far as $67,973 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$65,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,973US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $65,390 a year, 17.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,640 to $130,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 570 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $83,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $65,390, or $31.44 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 Michigan is 17.1% 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 Michigan earns more than $130,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,640 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 Detroit, at $83,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 570 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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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