Skip to content
worldsalaries .com

Average Soil Scientist Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A soil scientist in United Kingdom earns about 93,100 GBP a year. That's 34% above the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 48,600 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 142,100 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a soil scientist make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
93,100 GBP
7,758 GBP per month
Lowest reported
48,600 GBP
4,050 GBP per month
Highest reported
142,100 GBP
11,841 GBP per month

A typical soil scientist working in United Kingdom brings home around 7,758 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 48,600 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 142,100 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior soil scientist working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the soil scientist salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How soil scientist pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all soil scientists in United Kingdom earn less than 90,600 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 63,200 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 108,200 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of soil scientists sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 48,600 GBP. The highest stretch to 142,100 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

48,600
Low
90,600
Median
142,100
High
63,200
25th
108,200
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Soil scientist pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a soil scientist in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical soil scientist salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    54,700 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +36% from previous
    74,500 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +28% from previous
    95,100 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +22% from previous
    116,400 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +10% from previous
    127,700 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +3% from previous
    132,000 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 0 - 2 Years to 2 - 5 Years, where pay rises by about 36%. That is the point at which a soil scientist typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Soil scientist pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving soil scientist pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average soil scientist salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Bachelor's Degree
    69,600 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +27% from previous
    88,300 GBP
  • PhD
    +60% from previous
    141,000 GBP

Soil scientist gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male soil scientists in United Kingdom earn an average of 95,100 GBP a year, while female soil scientists earn around 88,700 GBP. That works out to a 7% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Soil Scientist gender pay gap

7%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 95,100 GBP
Women 88,700 GBP

Pay raises for a soil scientist in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 12% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 10% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Soil scientist bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

56%

56% of soil scientists in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a soil scientist a moderate-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5% of base salary. The remaining 44% of soil scientists reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Soil scientist: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Soil scientist salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Soil scientist pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Birmingham
  • Leeds
  • Sheffield
  • Liverpool
  • London
  • Bradford
  • Kingston upon Hull
  • Bristol
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion171,300 GBP163,500 GBP87,400-260,300 GBP
ScotlandRegion137,100 GBP140,200 GBP64,200-213,800 GBP
BirminghamCity114,600 GBP123,000 GBP52,000-180,500 GBP
LeedsCity109,000 GBP103,600 GBP56,400-163,800 GBP
SheffieldCity109,000 GBP105,200 GBP57,000-163,800 GBP
LiverpoolCity108,200 GBP108,200 GBP56,100-171,300 GBP
LondonCity108,200 GBP118,900 GBP51,600-176,300 GBP
BradfordCity105,800 GBP102,700 GBP53,600-160,600 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity105,800 GBP109,700 GBP51,600-163,800 GBP
BristolCity105,200 GBP100,500 GBP55,200-158,900 GBP
ManchesterCity105,200 GBP103,600 GBP54,600-160,600 GBP
LeicesterCity103,600 GBP105,200 GBP51,500-158,700 GBP
EdinburghCity102,700 GBP107,700 GBP50,500-161,300 GBP
GlasgowCity102,700 GBP95,400 GBP55,100-156,200 GBP
NottinghamCity102,700 GBP109,000 GBP50,300-161,300 GBP
PlymouthCity102,700 GBP94,200 GBP54,500-157,600 GBP
CardiffCity100,700 GBP100,700 GBP49,200-157,600 GBP
SomersetCity100,700 GBP100,700 GBP52,300-156,200 GBP
NewportCity100,400 GBP107,700 GBP45,200-156,200 GBP
CoventryCity99,700 GBP94,100 GBP55,600-151,800 GBP
BelfastCity99,700 GBP95,200 GBP52,000-152,900 GBP
AberdeenCity99,700 GBP107,300 GBP47,600-158,900 GBP
SwanseaCity99,600 GBP105,200 GBP46,700-153,700 GBP
SouthamptonCity99,600 GBP103,600 GBP47,600-152,700 GBP
BrightonCity97,900 GBP107,300 GBP48,200-156,200 GBP
ArmaghCity97,400 GBP102,700 GBP45,200-152,900 GBP
PortsmouthCity97,400 GBP105,200 GBP45,000-152,700 GBP
CambridgeCity97,200 GBP101,100 GBP44,500-151,800 GBP
NewcastleCity95,900 GBP102,700 GBP45,400-152,700 GBP
WolverhamptonCity95,400 GBP105,800 GBP44,500-152,700 GBP
NorwichCity95,200 GBP94,100 GBP51,500-148,300 GBP
PooleCity95,100 GBP95,100 GBP49,000-146,900 GBP
DerbyCity95,100 GBP95,100 GBP49,000-146,900 GBP
OxfordCity95,100 GBP88,600 GBP49,800-142,300 GBP
DundeeCity94,200 GBP93,100 GBP50,500-146,700 GBP
NewryCity93,100 GBP94,900 GBP46,300-142,300 GBP
PeterboroughCity92,900 GBP95,500 GBP43,800-146,700 GBP
LisburnCity92,100 GBP87,700 GBP50,000-140,700 GBP
ExeterCity92,100 GBP91,700 GBP45,800-142,300 GBP
YorkCity92,100 GBP90,300 GBP46,200-140,200 GBP
SalisburyCity91,700 GBP97,600 GBP41,500-142,300 GBP
LincolnCity91,000 GBP83,800 GBP47,200-134,700 GBP
GloucesterCity91,000 GBP95,500 GBP40,300-140,200 GBP
ChesterCity90,600 GBP90,900 GBP44,500-139,100 GBP
StirlingCity90,000 GBP90,000 GBP42,700-138,700 GBP
DurhamCity88,500 GBP97,100 GBP41,000-142,300 GBP
CanterburyCity88,400 GBP84,200 GBP45,900-134,100 GBP
InvernessCity87,800 GBP92,000 GBP44,300-140,700 GBP
WellsCity87,200 GBP79,000 GBP46,700-130,500 GBP
HartlepoolCity86,800 GBP80,500 GBP45,000-130,500 GBP
DerryCity86,800 GBP90,600 GBP40,300-139,100 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion86,600 GBP80,300 GBP46,400-130,500 GBP
WalesRegion86,100 GBP92,900 GBP40,700-140,700 GBP
WinchesterCity86,100 GBP86,100 GBP44,300-134,700 GBP
WakefieldCity85,100 GBP87,700 GBP42,400-130,400 GBP
StrontianCity85,100 GBP84,600 GBP43,400-128,400 GBP
BangorCity84,500 GBP78,200 GBP46,200-127,700 GBP
AbingdonCity83,800 GBP78,200 GBP45,200-128,200 GBP
TruroCity83,400 GBP78,200 GBP45,000-127,700 GBP
St DavidsCity83,300 GBP83,300 GBP42,300-130,500 GBP
KirkwallCity83,300 GBP76,900 GBP44,200-128,200 GBP
RiponCity82,200 GBP80,700 GBP40,300-127,700 GBP
StromnessCity78,700 GBP87,300 GBP34,800-127,700 GBP

Soil Scientist in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a soil scientist make per month in United Kingdom?

    A soil scientist in United Kingdom earns about 7,758 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 93,100 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a soil scientist in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level soil scientists in United Kingdom start near 48,600 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 142,100 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 63,200 and 108,200 GBP.

  • Is the median soil scientist salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 90,600 GBP, lower than the average of 93,100 GBP. Half of soil scientists in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for soil scientists in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a soil scientist in United Kingdom earn around 7% more than women on average (95,100 vs 88,700 GBP a year).

  • Do soil scientists in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 56% of soil scientists in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5% of base salary.

  • Do soil scientists earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a soil scientist about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do soil scientists in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A soil scientist in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 12% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 10% a year.