19 Series · SOC 19-2041
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $82,220
- Median / year
- $140,010
- Top 10% earn
- +4.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 89,250
- US workers
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn a median of $82,220 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $82,220, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $52,520 (10th percentile) to $140,010 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 89,250 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($132,620), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn a median of $82,220, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 75% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #28 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% by 2033.
- $82,220
- Median annual wage
- Top 25%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #28 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $132,620. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041) pays a national median of $82,220 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $52,520 at the 10th percentile to $140,010 at the 90th, with a mean of $91,680 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 89,250 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 345 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 8,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $132,620, which is +61% above the national figure. The top metro is North Georgia nonmetropolitan area at $178,960 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 89,250 jobs Median $82,220/yr
Median Salary
$82,220
per year
Median Hourly
$39.53/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$91,680
average
Employment
89,250
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$82,220 Top 25% higher than 75% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 19-series occupations with growth data, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health sits on the slower-growing side at +4.4% growth and $82,220 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.4%
About average
Annual Openings
8,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Reading Comprehension 4.1
Active Listening 4.0
Writing 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Complex Problem Solving 3.8
Judgment and Decision Making 3.8
Systems Analysis 3.8
Science 3.6
Active Learning 3.6
Knowledge Areas
Mathematics 4.3
Engineering and Technology 4.0
Chemistry 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.4
Physics 3.3
English Language 3.2
Production and Processing 3.2
Design 3.2
Biology 3.1
Geography 2.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Provide analytical support for policy briefs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or climate change.
- ▸ Propose new or modified policies involving use of traditional and alternative fuels, transportation of goods, and other factors relating to climate and climate change.
- ▸ Develop environmental restoration project schedules and budgets.
- ▸ Provide technical direction on environmental planning to energy engineers, biologists, geologists, or other professionals working to develop restoration plans or strategies.
- ▸ Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
- ▸ Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
- ▸ Create habitat management or restoration plans, such as native tree restoration and weed control.
- ▸ Conduct site assessments to certify a habitat or to ascertain environmental damage or restoration needs.
- ▸ Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.
- ▸ Prepare study reports, memoranda, briefs, testimonies, or other written materials to inform government or environmental groups on environmental issues, such as climate change.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$52,520
25th Percentile
$64,490
Median
$82,220
75th Percentile
$107,970
90th Percentile
$140,010
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $132,620 | +61% above national |
| 2 | California | $106,510 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $100,730 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $100,640 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $98,300 | +20% above national |
| 6 | Oregon | $97,440 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Texas | $92,000 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Alaska | $91,960 | +12% above national |
| 9 | Utah | $90,710 | +10% above national |
| 10 | Minnesota | $88,000 | +7% above national |
| 11 | New Mexico | $86,630 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Colorado | $85,990 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Georgia | $85,710 | +4% above national |
| 14 | North Dakota | $84,570 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Maryland | $84,190 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Nevada | $83,050 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Virginia | $82,230 | same as national |
| 18 | New York | $82,160 | same as national |
| 19 | West Virginia | $82,100 | same as national |
| 20 | Connecticut | $82,070 | same as national |
| 21 | Illinois | $81,590 | 1% below national |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $80,810 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Arizona | $80,600 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Montana | $80,260 | 2% below national |
| 25 | Hawaii | $79,510 | 3% below national |
| 26 | New Jersey | $79,210 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Iowa | $78,780 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Ohio | $78,540 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Kansas | $78,210 | 5% below national |
| 30 | Vermont | $77,460 | 6% below national |
| 31 | Tennessee | $76,840 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $76,110 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Michigan | $76,080 | 7% below national |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $75,910 | 8% below national |
| 35 | South Carolina | $74,910 | 9% below national |
| 36 | North Carolina | $74,130 | 10% below national |
| 37 | Wyoming | $74,050 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $72,820 | 11% below national |
| 39 | Alabama | $72,490 | 12% below national |
| 40 | Kentucky | $71,040 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Idaho | $70,350 | 14% below national |
| 42 | Louisiana | $69,820 | 15% below national |
| 43 | Guam | $68,640 | 17% below national |
| 44 | South Dakota | $68,230 | 17% below national |
| 45 | Maine | $66,480 | 19% below national |
| 46 | Indiana | $64,700 | 21% below national |
| 47 | Delaware | $64,690 | 21% below national |
| 48 | Nebraska | $64,040 | 22% below national |
| 49 | Missouri | $61,050 | 26% below national |
| 50 | Florida | $60,830 | 26% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $57,780 | 30% below national |
| 52 | Arkansas | $57,220 | 30% below national |
| 53 | Virgin Islands | $53,830 | 35% below national |
| 54 | Puerto Rico | $53,030 | 36% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 345 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $178,960 | +118% above national |
| 2 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $132,340 | +61% above national |
| 3 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $129,110 | +57% above national |
| 4 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,210 | +55% above national |
| 5 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $118,030 | +44% above national |
| 6 | Monroe, MI | $114,160 | +39% above national |
| 7 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $110,260 | +34% above national |
| 8 | Napa, CA | $109,710 | +33% above national |
| 9 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $109,710 | +33% above national |
| 10 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $108,430 | +32% above national |
| 11 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $108,160 | +32% above national |
| 12 | Redding, CA | $106,510 | +30% above national |
| 13 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,510 | +30% above national |
| 14 | Yuba City, CA | $106,510 | +30% above national |
| 15 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $106,100 | +29% above national |
| 16 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $105,810 | +29% above national |
| 17 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,340 | +28% above national |
| 18 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $105,230 | +28% above national |
| 19 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $104,300 | +27% above national |
| 20 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $104,110 | +27% above national |
| 21 | Springfield, MA | $103,930 | +26% above national |
| 22 | Modesto, CA | $103,840 | +26% above national |
| 23 | Worcester, MA | $103,730 | +26% above national |
| 24 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $103,610 | +26% above national |
| 25 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,980 | +25% above national |
| 26 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,850 | +25% above national |
| 27 | Salinas, CA | $101,560 | +24% above national |
| 28 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $100,360 | +22% above national |
| 29 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $99,720 | +21% above national |
| 30 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $98,050 | +19% above national |
| 31 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $98,050 | +19% above national |
| 32 | Salem, OR | $98,050 | +19% above national |
| 33 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $97,860 | +19% above national |
| 34 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $97,470 | +19% above national |
| 35 | Colorado Springs, CO | $97,460 | +19% above national |
| 36 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,330 | +18% above national |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | $97,040 | +18% above national |
| 38 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $96,780 | +18% above national |
| 39 | Barnstable Town, MA | $96,630 | +18% above national |
| 40 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $96,500 | +17% above national |
| 41 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $96,100 | +17% above national |
| 42 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $96,100 | +17% above national |
| 43 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $96,030 | +17% above national |
| 44 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $95,780 | +16% above national |
| 45 | Vallejo, CA | $95,750 | +16% above national |
| 46 | El Centro, CA | $95,630 | +16% above national |
| 47 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $95,200 | +16% above national |
| 48 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $95,170 | +16% above national |
| 49 | Rochester, MN | $94,580 | +15% above national |
| 50 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $94,030 | +14% above national |
| 51 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $93,770 | +14% above national |
| 52 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $93,600 | +14% above national |
| 53 | Springfield, IL | $93,590 | +14% above national |
| 54 | Bend, OR | $93,560 | +14% above national |
| 55 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $93,070 | +13% above national |
| 56 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $92,350 | +12% above national |
| 57 | Columbus, GA-AL | $92,170 | +12% above national |
| 58 | Jackson, MI | $91,640 | +11% above national |
| 59 | Battle Creek, MI | $91,560 | +11% above national |
| 60 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $91,560 | +11% above national |
| 61 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $91,560 | +11% above national |
| 62 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $91,480 | +11% above national |
| 63 | Chico, CA | $91,210 | +11% above national |
| 64 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $91,060 | +11% above national |
| 65 | Anchorage, AK | $90,960 | +11% above national |
| 66 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $90,340 | +10% above national |
| 67 | Greeley, CO | $89,840 | +9% above national |
| 68 | Tyler, TX | $89,500 | +9% above national |
| 69 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $89,220 | +9% above national |
| 70 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $89,160 | +8% above national |
| 71 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $89,090 | +8% above national |
| 72 | Billings, MT | $89,010 | +8% above national |
| 73 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $88,920 | +8% above national |
| 74 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $88,790 | +8% above national |
| 75 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $88,640 | +8% above national |
| 76 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $88,610 | +8% above national |
| 77 | Pittsfield, MA | $88,510 | +8% above national |
| 78 | Dalton, GA | $88,370 | +7% above national |
| 79 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $88,110 | +7% above national |
| 80 | El Paso, TX | $87,930 | +7% above national |
| 81 | Santa Fe, NM | $87,920 | +7% above national |
| 82 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $87,820 | +7% above national |
| 83 | Bismarck, ND | $87,350 | +6% above national |
| 84 | Bellingham, WA | $87,270 | +6% above national |
| 85 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $87,270 | +6% above national |
| 86 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $87,220 | +6% above national |
| 87 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $86,990 | +6% above national |
| 88 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $86,800 | +6% above national |
| 89 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $86,700 | +5% above national |
| 90 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $86,700 | +5% above national |
| 91 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $86,700 | +5% above national |
| 92 | Las Cruces, NM | $86,630 | +5% above national |
| 93 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $86,400 | +5% above national |
| 94 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $86,380 | +5% above national |
| 95 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $86,200 | +5% above national |
| 96 | Ogden, UT | $86,180 | +5% above national |
| 97 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $85,510 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $85,380 | +4% above national |
| 99 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $85,310 | +4% above national |
| 100 | Columbia, SC | $85,300 | +4% above national |
| 101 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $85,210 | +4% above national |
| 102 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $85,190 | +4% above national |
| 103 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $85,180 | +4% above national |
| 104 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $85,180 | +4% above national |
| 105 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $84,890 | +3% above national |
| 106 | Waco, TX | $84,670 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Warner Robins, GA | $84,670 | +3% above national |
| 108 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $83,990 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Yuma, AZ | $83,780 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $83,720 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $83,710 | +2% above national |
| 112 | Corvallis, OR | $83,210 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Decatur, AL | $83,120 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $82,900 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $82,840 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $82,800 | +1% above national |
| 117 | Albuquerque, NM | $82,760 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $82,640 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $82,640 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $82,620 | same as national |
| 121 | Kingston, NY | $82,610 | same as national |
| 122 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $82,370 | same as national |
| 123 | Columbus, OH | $82,350 | same as national |
| 124 | Mankato, MN | $82,350 | same as national |
| 125 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $82,220 | same as national |
| 126 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $82,100 | same as national |
| 127 | Ann Arbor, MI | $82,060 | same as national |
| 128 | Duluth, MN-WI | $82,050 | same as national |
| 129 | Helena, MT | $81,940 | same as national |
| 130 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $81,640 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $81,600 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Lexington Park, MD | $81,520 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $81,400 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $81,350 | 1% below national |
| 135 | New Haven, CT | $81,340 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Flagstaff, AZ | $81,330 | 1% below national |
| 137 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $81,220 | 1% below national |
| 138 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $81,190 | 1% below national |
| 139 | Wichita, KS | $81,180 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Medford, OR | $81,070 | 1% below national |
| 141 | Toledo, OH | $81,070 | 1% below national |
| 142 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $80,900 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $80,810 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Logan, UT-ID | $80,700 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Tulsa, OK | $80,700 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $80,690 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $80,640 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $80,600 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $80,480 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Midland, TX | $80,450 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Visalia, CA | $80,360 | 2% below national |
| 152 | Richmond, VA | $80,350 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Bozeman, MT | $80,260 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $80,180 | 2% below national |
| 155 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $80,110 | 3% below national |
| 156 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $79,850 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $79,830 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $79,510 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $79,480 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $79,060 | 4% below national |
| 161 | Grand Junction, CO | $79,040 | 4% below national |
| 162 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $79,010 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Ithaca, NY | $78,790 | 4% below national |
| 164 | Iowa City, IA | $78,780 | 4% below national |
| 165 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,770 | 4% below national |
| 166 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $78,690 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $78,600 | 4% below national |
| 168 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $78,320 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Utica-Rome, NY | $78,170 | 5% below national |
| 170 | Huntsville, AL | $78,110 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $78,010 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Missoula, MT | $77,940 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Charlottesville, VA | $77,850 | 5% below national |
| 174 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $77,850 | 5% below national |
| 175 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $77,800 | 5% below national |
| 176 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,710 | 5% below national |
| 177 | Syracuse, NY | $77,450 | 6% below national |
| 178 | Bay City, MI | $77,440 | 6% below national |
| 179 | Oklahoma City, OK | $77,400 | 6% below national |
| 180 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $77,400 | 6% below national |
| 181 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $77,280 | 6% below national |
| 182 | Fargo, ND-MN | $77,240 | 6% below national |
| 183 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $77,130 | 6% below national |
| 184 | Salisbury, MD | $77,000 | 6% below national |
| 185 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $76,900 | 6% below national |
| 186 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $76,840 | 7% below national |
| 187 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $76,700 | 7% below national |
| 188 | Yakima, WA | $76,560 | 7% below national |
| 189 | Madison, WI | $76,520 | 7% below national |
| 190 | York-Hanover, PA | $76,500 | 7% below national |
| 191 | Binghamton, NY | $76,460 | 7% below national |
| 192 | Longview, TX | $76,460 | 7% below national |
| 193 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $76,400 | 7% below national |
| 194 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $76,400 | 7% below national |
| 195 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $76,400 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Tucson, AZ | $76,330 | 7% below national |
| 197 | Reno, NV | $76,320 | 7% below national |
| 198 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $76,320 | 7% below national |
| 199 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $76,280 | 7% below national |
| 200 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $76,200 | 7% below national |
| 201 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $76,180 | 7% below national |
| 202 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $75,940 | 8% below national |
| 203 | Jacksonville, NC | $75,890 | 8% below national |
| 204 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $75,500 | 8% below national |
| 205 | Boise City, ID | $75,440 | 8% below national |
| 206 | Cheyenne, WY | $75,430 | 8% below national |
| 207 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $75,430 | 8% below national |
| 208 | Knoxville, TN | $75,420 | 8% below national |
| 209 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $75,400 | 8% below national |
| 210 | Johnson City, TN | $75,400 | 8% below national |
| 211 | Manhattan, KS | $75,360 | 8% below national |
| 212 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $75,340 | 8% below national |
| 213 | Roanoke, VA | $75,330 | 8% below national |
| 214 | Rochester, NY | $75,160 | 9% below national |
| 215 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $74,990 | 9% below national |
| 216 | Harrisonburg, VA | $74,450 | 9% below national |
| 217 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $74,450 | 9% below national |
| 218 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $74,300 | 10% below national |
| 219 | Mobile, AL | $74,260 | 10% below national |
| 220 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $74,240 | 10% below national |
| 221 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $74,190 | 10% below national |
| 222 | Charleston, WV | $74,090 | 10% below national |
| 223 | Casper, WY | $74,060 | 10% below national |
| 224 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $74,060 | 10% below national |
| 225 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $73,980 | 10% below national |
| 226 | Traverse City, MI | $73,500 | 11% below national |
| 227 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $73,120 | 11% below national |
| 228 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $73,050 | 11% below national |
| 229 | Asheville, NC | $72,960 | 11% below national |
| 230 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $72,730 | 12% below national |
| 231 | Akron, OH | $72,530 | 12% below national |
| 232 | Birmingham, AL | $72,510 | 12% below national |
| 233 | Lubbock, TX | $72,400 | 12% below national |
| 234 | Idaho Falls, ID | $72,360 | 12% below national |
| 235 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $72,340 | 12% below national |
| 236 | Pocatello, ID | $72,160 | 12% below national |
| 237 | Eau Claire, WI | $71,760 | 13% below national |
| 238 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $71,760 | 13% below national |
| 239 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $71,440 | 13% below national |
| 240 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $71,360 | 13% below national |
| 241 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $71,080 | 14% below national |
| 242 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $71,040 | 14% below national |
| 243 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $71,040 | 14% below national |
| 244 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $71,040 | 14% below national |
| 245 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $71,040 | 14% below national |
| 246 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $71,000 | 14% below national |
| 247 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $70,820 | 14% below national |
| 248 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $70,700 | 14% below national |
| 249 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $70,620 | 14% below national |
| 250 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $70,200 | 15% below national |
| 251 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $70,200 | 15% below national |
| 252 | Lafayette, LA | $70,070 | 15% below national |
| 253 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $69,930 | 15% below national |
| 254 | Baton Rouge, LA | $69,560 | 15% below national |
| 255 | Green Bay, WI | $69,470 | 16% below national |
| 256 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $69,450 | 16% below national |
| 257 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $69,240 | 16% below national |
| 258 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $69,000 | 16% below national |
| 259 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $68,920 | 16% below national |
| 260 | Montgomery, AL | $68,850 | 16% below national |
| 261 | Jackson, TN | $68,390 | 17% below national |
| 262 | Rapid City, SD | $68,260 | 17% below national |
| 263 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $67,960 | 17% below national |
| 264 | Lake Charles, LA | $67,920 | 17% below national |
| 265 | Monroe, LA | $67,800 | 18% below national |
| 266 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $67,660 | 18% below national |
| 267 | Altoona, PA | $67,410 | 18% below national |
| 268 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $67,380 | 18% below national |
| 269 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $67,220 | 18% below national |
| 270 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $67,100 | 18% below national |
| 271 | Winston-Salem, NC | $67,030 | 18% below national |
| 272 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $67,000 | 19% below national |
| 273 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $66,970 | 19% below national |
| 274 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $66,900 | 19% below national |
| 275 | Cleveland, OH | $66,890 | 19% below national |
| 276 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $66,890 | 19% below national |
| 277 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $66,810 | 19% below national |
| 278 | Reading, PA | $66,730 | 19% below national |
| 279 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $66,510 | 19% below national |
| 280 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $66,480 | 19% below national |
| 281 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $66,390 | 19% below national |
| 282 | Lancaster, PA | $66,310 | 19% below national |
| 283 | Appleton, WI | $66,300 | 19% below national |
| 284 | Omaha, NE-IA | $65,790 | 20% below national |
| 285 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $65,780 | 20% below national |
| 286 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $65,450 | 20% below national |
| 287 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $65,360 | 21% below national |
| 288 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,360 | 21% below national |
| 289 | Wilmington, NC | $65,360 | 21% below national |
| 290 | Boulder, CO | $65,260 | 21% below national |
| 291 | Bloomington, IN | $65,180 | 21% below national |
| 292 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $65,170 | 21% below national |
| 293 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $65,010 | 21% below national |
| 294 | Amarillo, TX | $64,970 | 21% below national |
| 295 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $64,840 | 21% below national |
| 296 | Evansville, IN | $64,700 | 21% below national |
| 297 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $64,640 | 21% below national |
| 298 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $64,600 | 21% below national |
| 299 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $64,600 | 21% below national |
| 300 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $64,540 | 22% below national |
| 301 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $64,520 | 22% below national |
| 302 | Lincoln, NE | $64,450 | 22% below national |
| 303 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $64,010 | 22% below national |
| 304 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $63,910 | 22% below national |
| 305 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $63,750 | 22% below national |
| 306 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $63,220 | 23% below national |
| 307 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $62,690 | 24% below national |
| 308 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $62,680 | 24% below national |
| 309 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $62,150 | 24% below national |
| 310 | Fayetteville, NC | $61,940 | 25% below national |
| 311 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $61,880 | 25% below national |
| 312 | Topeka, KS | $61,880 | 25% below national |
| 313 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $61,690 | 25% below national |
| 314 | Fort Wayne, IN | $61,090 | 26% below national |
| 315 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,050 | 26% below national |
| 316 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $60,850 | 26% below national |
| 317 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $60,640 | 26% below national |
| 318 | Jacksonville, FL | $60,380 | 27% below national |
| 319 | Bangor, ME | $60,110 | 27% below national |
| 320 | Jefferson City, MO | $59,760 | 27% below national |
| 321 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $59,560 | 28% below national |
| 322 | Dover, DE | $59,370 | 28% below national |
| 323 | Punta Gorda, FL | $59,100 | 28% below national |
| 324 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $58,970 | 28% below national |
| 325 | Springfield, MO | $58,660 | 29% below national |
| 326 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $58,570 | 29% below national |
| 327 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $58,470 | 29% below national |
| 328 | Flint, MI | $58,350 | 29% below national |
| 329 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $58,240 | 29% below national |
| 330 | Jackson, MS | $57,990 | 29% below national |
| 331 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $57,620 | 30% below national |
| 332 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $57,010 | 31% below national |
| 333 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $56,280 | 32% below national |
| 334 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $56,190 | 32% below national |
| 335 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $56,040 | 32% below national |
| 336 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $56,010 | 32% below national |
| 337 | Gainesville, FL | $55,910 | 32% below national |
| 338 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $55,330 | 33% below national |
| 339 | Tallahassee, FL | $53,910 | 34% below national |
| 340 | Hattiesburg, MS | $52,690 | 36% below national |
| 341 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $51,500 | 37% below national |
| 342 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $51,290 | 38% below national |
| 343 | Erie, PA | $50,810 | 38% below national |
| 344 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $50,510 | 39% below national |
| 345 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $49,640 | 40% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health make? ▼
The median annual salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health is $82,220 ($39.53/hour). The salary range spans from $52,520 at the 10th percentile to $140,010 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health at $132,620/year, which is +61% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health? ▼
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.7 per 100 workers.
Is Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health a good career? ▼
Employment for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health is projected to grow 4.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 8,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay vary by state? ▼
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $132,620/year, while Florida pays the least at $60,830/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health is North Georgia nonmetropolitan area at $178,960/year. BLS reports wage data for 345 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $107,970/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $132,620/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.