Soil Scientist pay range
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · class code 14820
- Class code
- 14820
- Pay scale group
- ST 07
- Pay unit
- Year
- Bargaining unit
- B4
- State
- Pennsylvania
- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania published pay range for Soil Scientist is $60,538 to $92,010 per year.
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration keys this classification as class code 14820.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Class specification
The Commonwealth job specification for this class is published by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration. The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 08/01/2023.
What the state says the job is
This is professional soil science work testing, identifying, and classifying soil samples to ensure compliance with clean water, waste management, biosolids management, and environmental cleanup laws and regulations. An employee in this job independently conducts soil characterization, testing, mapping, and suitability evaluations in an assigned program area. Work involves conducting investigations and soil surveys to determine sewage, solid waste disposal, or remediation site suitability; detecting and evaluating erosion and siltation hazards to reduce land and stream disturbances; inspecting waste treatment facilities for soil and drainage characteristics; conducting soil nutrient reviews for biosolid use; identifying soil contamination levels; or developing remediation procedures.
Examples of the work
• Conducts soil characterization, testing, mapping, and suitability evaluations related to on-site permit applications, renewals, and compliance reviews; hazardous spills or contamination incidents; waste disposal treatment facility proposals; and erosion and sediment control efforts. • Conducts inspections of permitted facilities, such as wastewater treatment and hazardous waste disposal facilities, to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. • Testifies as an expert witness in court proceedings related to regulation violations and legal disputes, such as proposed waste disposal site location disagreements.
Minimum qualifications
• One year of experience as a Soil Scientist Trainee (commonwealth title); or • One year of professional experience in soil testing, identification, classification, suitability, or remediation work; and a bachelor's degree in environmental resource management, environmental science, environmental studies, earth science, agricultural science, or a closely related field, that includes 15 college credits in soil science; or • Four years and six months of technical experience in soil testing, identification, classification, suitability, or remediation work that includes one year of experience in a professional capacity; and 15 college credits in soil science; or • An equivalent combination of ex ...
Special requirements
• All positions require possession of an active motor vehicle license.
Quoted from the Commonwealth job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration publishes this figure in Classification and Pay Plan (online, current annual salary ranges). Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The Commonwealth also links this class code to its own job title and specification. That page is the official description of the classification; this page publishes its pay range.
The listed pay scale is available in the Commonwealth's current ST schedule.