Entry-level Soil and Plant Scientist salary in Ames, IA
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Ames, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026.
Also listed as: Agronomist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,322 |
| 25th | $58,656 |
| 50th (median) | $59,000 |
| 75th | $60,180 |
| 90th | $64,187 |
Cost of living
Ames's median entry-level Soil and Plant Scientist salary of $59,000 is worth about $66,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Ames = 88.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Soil and Plant Scientists in the Ames, IA area earned a median of $65,080 in May 2025 (130 employed). The H-1B median here is $59,000, 9% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | $59,000 | 13 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $59,000 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $48,859 | $59,000 | 13 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.