SOC 19-1013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Soil and Plant Scientists — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in San Jose, CA is $116,660 per year, well above the national median of $78,850.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in San Jose, CA is $116,660 per year, well above the national median of $78,850. The gap of 48.0% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $58,050 at the tenth percentile to more than $179,120 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $91,670 to $154,880.
Employment stands at 70, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Salinas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $115,910. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 166th of 574 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,050 | −26.4% |
| 25th | $91,670 | +16.3% |
| Median (50th) | $116,660 | +48.0% |
| 75th | $154,880 | +96.4% |
| 90th | $179,120 | +127.2% |
| Mean | $122,130 | +54.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $115,910 | 30 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $108,200 | 140 | |
| 3 | Napa | $104,120 | 70 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $101,660 | 50 | |
| 5 | Fresno | $100,050 | 90 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $98,340 | 190 | |
| 7 | Oxnard | $96,480 | — | |
| 8 | Riverside | $94,900 | 70 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $86,330 | 140 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $82,490 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $116,660 buys what $105,384 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 33.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$116,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$105,384US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $116,660 a year, 48.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,050 to $179,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $115,910.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $116,660, or $56.09 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 San Jose, CA is 48.0% 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $179,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,050 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 Salinas, at $115,910 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. 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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