Environmental Scientist Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
The median environmental scientist salary in the United States is $82,220 per year ($39.53/hour). Salaries range from $52,520 at the entry level to $140,010+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 89,250 environmental scientist jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$82,220
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.53
per hour
Employment
89,250
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$52,520
25th percentile
$64,490
Median
$82,220
75th percentile
$107,970
90th percentile
$140,010
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+4.4%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
8,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Environmental Scientist Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$57K$133K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$133K
+61%
California
$107K
+30%
Rhode Island
$101K
+23%
Massachusetts
$101K
+22%
Washington
$98K
+20%
Oregon
$97K
+19%
Texas
$92K
+12%
Alaska
$92K
+12%
Utah
$91K
+10%
Minnesota
$88K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $132,620 | +61.3% |
| California | $106,510 | +29.5% |
| Rhode Island | $100,730 | +22.5% |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | +22.4% |
| Washington | $98,300 | +19.6% |
| Oregon | $97,440 | +18.5% |
| Texas | $92,000 | +11.9% |
| Alaska | $91,960 | +11.8% |
| Utah | $90,710 | +10.3% |
| Minnesota | $88,000 | +7.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 51
Environmental Scientist Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $129,110 | +57.0% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,210 | +54.7% |
| Monroe, MI | $114,160 | +38.8% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $110,260 | +34.1% |
| Napa, CA | $109,710 | +33.4% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $109,710 | +33.4% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $108,430 | +31.9% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $108,160 | +31.5% |
| Redding, CA | $106,510 | +29.5% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,510 | +29.5% |
Showing 1–10 of 262
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A environmental scientist earning $82,220/year would need 725 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 778 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how environmental scientist salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Environmental Scientist salary trend (2011–2024) →