SOC 19-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Soil and Plant Scientists — Oregon
Oregon · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Oregon is $85,150 per year, close to the national median of $78,850 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Oregon is $85,150 per year, close to the national median of $78,850 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $73,090 and $102,040. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $63,960 and the ninetieth at $117,000.
Employment stands at 620, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Oregon ranks number 8th out of 46 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Portland records the highest median at $94,940. Of the 727 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 199th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,960 | −18.9% |
| 25th | $73,090 | −7.3% |
| Median (50th) | $85,150 | +8.0% |
| 75th | $102,040 | +29.4% |
| 90th | $117,000 | +48.4% |
| Mean | $89,040 | +12.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Oregon
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Oregon run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $85,150 buys what $82,350 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$85,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$82,350US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $85,150 a year, 8.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,960 to $117,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 620 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $94,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Oregon?
The median annual wage is $85,150, or $40.94 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 Oregon is 8.0% higher. 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 Oregon earns more than $117,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,960 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 Portland, at $94,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 620 jobs in this occupation in Oregon. 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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