Kentucky Median
$67,340
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.38
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-15% vs US median
US median $78,850
State Rank
#32 of 46
140 employed here
How much do Soil and Plant Scientists make in Kentucky?
Soil and Plant Scientists in Kentucky take home a median of $67,340 annually — roughly $32.38 an hour — which runs 15% below the national median of $78,850.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $57,090 while the top 10% make $107,010 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,170 and $86,890 a year.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,090 | $27.45 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,170 | $29.41 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $67,340 | $32.38 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $86,890 | $41.77 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,010 | $51.45 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 32nd out of 46 states and territories for Soil and Plant Scientists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Soil and Plant Scientists salary in other states
District of Columbia $107,140Florida $103,240Alaska $100,320Iowa $96,310Idaho $95,150New Jersey $91,970California $91,930Oregon $85,150Maryland $85,020Hawaii $84,390Arizona $83,840Indiana $80,030Washington $79,970Minnesota $79,610Illinois $79,490South Carolina $78,850Maine $78,250New York $77,800Nebraska $77,500North Carolina $76,330Missouri $76,080Colorado $75,430Montana $73,920Virginia $73,920South Dakota $73,590Mississippi $72,690Nevada $71,450Pennsylvania $70,550Massachusetts $69,880New Mexico $69,480Connecticut $67,630Wisconsin $66,200Kansas $65,670Michigan $65,390North Dakota $65,320Delaware $65,310Georgia $65,170Oklahoma $63,910Alabama $63,010Tennessee $61,950Louisiana $60,200Utah $59,900Vermont $58,220Ohio $56,820Wyoming $55,680
Working as Soil and Plant Scientists in Kentucky
Nationally, about 16,000 people work as Soil and Plant Scientists in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($67,340) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Soil and Plant Scientists make in Kentucky?
The median Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Kentucky is $67,340 per year, or about $32.38 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $57,090 at the entry level to $107,010 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Soil and Plant Scientists about 15% less than the national median of $78,850. Kentucky ranks 32nd out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Soil and Plant Scientists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $67,340 a year. About 140 Soil and Plant Scientists are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Soil and Plant Scientists salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.