BLS metro-level wage data places Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area at a median of $96,100 per year ($46.20/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $78,850, Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area pays +22% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 60 soil and plant scientistss are employed across the Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area MSA in SOC 19-1013.

The Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area pay distribution spans from $37,960 at the 10th percentile to $129,360 at the 90th — a 3.4× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $78,630 and the 75th at $107,440, so half of Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area-based soil and plant scientistss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide ID data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.