How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $39.53 an hour or $6,852 a month.
- Hourly
- $39.53
- Average (mean)
- $91,680
- Jobs
- 89,250
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,520 | $25.25 | |
| 25th | $64,490 | $31.00 | |
| Median | $82,220 | $39.53 | |
| 75th | $108,000 | $51.91 | |
| 90th | $140,000 | $67.31 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $132,600 |
| California | $106,500 |
| Rhode Island | $100,700 |
| Massachusetts | $100,600 |
| Washington | $98,300 |
| Oregon | $97,440 |
| Texas | $92,000 |
| Alaska | $91,960 |
| Utah | $90,710 |
| Minnesota | $88,000 |
| New Mexico | $86,630 |
| Colorado | $85,990 |
| Georgia | $85,710 |
| North Dakota | $84,570 |
| Maryland | $84,190 |
| Nevada | $83,050 |
| Virginia | $82,230 |
| New York | $82,160 |
| West Virginia | $82,100 |
| Connecticut | $82,070 |
| Illinois | $81,590 |
| New Hampshire | $80,810 |
| Arizona | $80,600 |
| Montana | $80,260 |
| Hawaii | $79,510 |
| New Jersey | $79,210 |
| Iowa | $78,780 |
| Ohio | $78,540 |
| Kansas | $78,210 |
| Vermont | $77,460 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,110 |
| Michigan | $76,080 |
| Oklahoma | $75,910 |
| South Carolina | $74,910 |
| North Carolina | $74,130 |
| Wyoming | $74,050 |
| Wisconsin | $72,820 |
| Alabama | $72,490 |
| Kentucky | $71,040 |
| Idaho | $70,350 |
| Louisiana | $69,820 |
| South Dakota | $68,230 |
| Maine | $66,480 |
| Indiana | $64,700 |
| Delaware | $64,690 |
| Nebraska | $64,040 |
| Missouri | $61,050 |
| Florida | $60,830 |
| Mississippi | $57,780 |
| Arkansas | $57,220 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kennewick, WA | $129,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $127,200 |
| Monroe, MI | $114,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $110,300 |
| Napa, CA | $109,700 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $109,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $108,400 |
| Washington, DC | $108,200 |
| Redding, CA | $106,500 |
| San Jose, CA | $106,500 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $106,100 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $105,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $105,300 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $105,200 |
In other countries
Environmental Scientist and Specialist belongs to the international group "Environmental protection professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist$99,070
- Chemist$91,240
- Materials Scientist$117,800
- Geoscientist$101,900
- Hydrologist$96,600
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $39.53 ($82,220 a year).
How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make a month?
About $6,852 a month before tax, based on a median of $82,220 a year.
How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $52,520 or less a year ($25.25 an hour); the top 10% make $140,000 or more.
Which state pays environmental scientist and specialists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $132,600 a year, followed by California ($106,500) and Rhode Island ($100,700).
Which city pays environmental scientist and specialists the most?
Kennewick-Richland, WA, with a median of $129,100 a year.
How many environmental scientist and specialists are there in the United States?
About 89,250 people work as environmental scientist and specialists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.