Soil and Plant Scientists Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $132,290. BLS estimates approximately 430 people work in this occupation in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 67.8% above the national median ($78,850).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| 25th percentile | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Median (50th) | $132,290 | $63.60 |
| 75th percentile | $161,840 | $77.81 |
| 90th percentile | $171,530 | $82.47 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 2.4% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 8.2% — Reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.069
- Location quotient
- 10.57
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA’s regional price level is below the national average (index 91.701, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $144,262 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.