Soil and Plant Scientists salary
in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
- Middle 50%
- $62,590–$110,470
- vs U.S. median
- +2%
- Metro rank
- #7 of 13
Soil and Plant Scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $80,360 a year, based on BLS estimates for 240 jobs (May 2025). That is 2% above the U.S. median of $78,850 and 1% above the IL statewide median of $79,490. It ranks #7 of 13 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE240 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Questions
What is the average Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Chicago?
The BLS median is $80,360 a year (May 2025). Half of the 240 jobs pay between $62,590 and $110,470. The 10th percentile is $44,700 and the 90th is $135,250.
Is Chicago a high-paying metro for Soil and Plant Scientists?
That is 2% above the U.S. median of $78,850 and 1% above the IL statewide median of $79,490. It ranks #7 of 13 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Soil and Plant Scientists make an hour in Chicago?
About $38.63 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $80,360 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $30.09–$53.11 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.