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Soil Scientist - Federal Salaries of 2020
Pay Rates for "Soil Scientist"
How much does a Soil Scientist in the federal government get paid? $94,644.45* *Based on the 2020 average.Soil Scientist was the 192nd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2020, with 748 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2020, the Natural Resources Conservation Service hired the most employees titled Soil Science, with an average salary of $89,060.
Government Soil Science jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Soil Science job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions fall under this job category. Due to the growing focus of them STEM fields, individuals in this job category tend to advance more quickly than employees in the other job categories. Jobs in this category are being added quickly and many organizations have trouble finding qualified individuals. Individuals in this job category typically recieve pormotions of 2 grade increases at a time until they reach GS-12.
Agencies that have hired a Soil Scientist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation Service | 492 | $89,060.21 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 123 | $127,338.32 |
| Forest Service | 104 | $82,208.81 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 15 | $79,046.20 |
| Geological Survey | 5 | $116,271.00 |
| Environmental Protection Agency | 4 | $132,061.75 |
| Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement | 2 | $80,904.50 |
| Fpac Business Center | 1 | $107,509.00 |
| Indian Affairs | 1 | $99,741.00 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 1 | $99,741.00 |
Soil Scientist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Soil Scientist is $94,644.45. The highest paid Soil Scientist made $182,404 in 2020.
Common Soil Scientist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Soil Science Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 742 |
| ST - Scientific And Professional | 5 |
| ES - Senior Executive Service | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $34,649.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $146,757.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 0400 NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Soil Science jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Protection Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Industrial Specialist | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Social Insurance Administration | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Human Resources Management | Administrative and Management | GS-4 | GS-15 |
| Pathology Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Soil Science Pay Trend from 2004 to 2020
In 2004, the average pay for a Soil Scientist was $66,670. Since then, the average pay has increased to $94,644 in 2020.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0470.