SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023), “Conservation Scientists” (19-1031), “Forest and Conservation Technicians” (19-4071), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Fish and Game Wardens” (33-3031), and “Forest and Conservation Workers” (45-4011).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-2041.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $52,520 | $4,377 | $1,010 | $25.25 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $64,490 | $5,374 | $1,240 | $31.01 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $82,220 | $6,852 | $1,581 | $39.53 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $107,970 | $8,998 | $2,076 | $51.91 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $140,010 | $11,668 | $2,692 | $67.31 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health is $82,220, which is 61% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 28 by median pay. With 89,250 jobs, it makes up about 5.7 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($91,680) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay by state
The highest median pay was in District of Columbia ($132,620), California ($106,510) and Rhode Island ($100,730). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($53,030), Virgin Islands ($53,830) and Arkansas ($57,220). The most jobs were in California (12,490), Florida (5,950) and Texas (5,630). The occupation is most concentrated in Alaska, where its share of all jobs is 4.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,270 | $132,620 | $133,190 | $63.76 |
| California | 12,490 | $106,510 | $112,360 | $51.21 |
| Rhode Island | 330 | $100,730 | $104,460 | $48.43 |
| Massachusetts | 2,930 | $100,640 | $104,760 | $48.39 |
| Washington | 4,470 | $98,300 | $103,580 | $47.26 |
| Oregon | 1,370 | $97,440 | $97,100 | $46.85 |
| Texas | 5,630 | $92,000 | $100,680 | $44.23 |
| Alaska | 860 | $91,960 | $100,490 | $44.21 |
| Utah | 1,020 | $90,710 | $98,090 | $43.61 |
| Minnesota | 2,260 | $88,000 | $87,840 | $42.31 |
| New Mexico | 940 | $86,630 | $92,050 | $41.65 |
| Colorado | 2,580 | $85,990 | $98,930 | $41.34 |
| Georgia | 1,750 | $85,710 | $98,480 | $41.21 |
| North Dakota | 240 | $84,570 | $83,820 | $40.66 |
| Maryland | 1,760 | $84,190 | $93,100 | $40.48 |
| Nevada | 490 | $83,050 | $89,850 | $39.93 |
| Virginia | 2,850 | $82,230 | $90,500 | $39.53 |
| New York | 3,700 | $82,160 | $91,410 | $39.50 |
| West Virginia | 250 | $82,100 | $84,920 | $39.47 |
| Connecticut | 620 | $82,070 | $100,040 | $39.46 |
| Illinois | 1,550 | $81,590 | $92,260 | $39.23 |
| New Hampshire | 480 | $80,810 | $85,120 | $38.85 |
| Arizona | 1,970 | $80,600 | $92,740 | $38.75 |
| Montana | 570 | $80,260 | $85,240 | $38.59 |
| Hawaii | 670 | $79,510 | $80,720 | $38.23 |
| New Jersey | 3,150 | $79,210 | $86,690 | $38.08 |
| Iowa | 690 | $78,780 | $81,670 | $37.88 |
| Ohio | 2,460 | $78,540 | $80,820 | $37.76 |
| Kansas | 590 | $78,210 | $87,500 | $37.60 |
| Vermont | 490 | $77,460 | $83,460 | $37.24 |
| Tennessee | 1,230 | $76,840 | $84,680 | $36.94 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,020 | $76,110 | $82,270 | $36.59 |
| Michigan | 3,100 | $76,080 | $81,800 | $36.58 |
| Oklahoma | 520 | $75,910 | $78,430 | $36.49 |
| South Carolina | 490 | $74,910 | $83,920 | $36.02 |
| North Carolina | 4,150 | $74,130 | $80,230 | $35.64 |
| Wyoming | 410 | $74,050 | $76,430 | $35.60 |
| Wisconsin | 920 | $72,820 | $77,840 | $35.01 |
| Alabama | 870 | $72,490 | $74,510 | $34.85 |
| Kentucky | 1,000 | $71,040 | $71,160 | $34.16 |
| Idaho | 670 | $70,350 | $76,760 | $33.82 |
| Louisiana | 1,600 | $69,820 | $82,010 | $33.57 |
| Guam | 80 | $68,640 | $70,590 | $33.00 |
| South Dakota | 240 | $68,230 | $72,470 | $32.80 |
| Maine | 530 | $66,480 | $71,400 | $31.96 |
| Indiana | 1,290 | $64,700 | $78,210 | $31.11 |
| Delaware | 290 | $64,690 | $68,460 | $31.10 |
| Nebraska | 510 | $64,040 | $74,880 | $30.79 |
| Missouri | 1,380 | $61,050 | $66,360 | $29.35 |
| Florida | 5,950 | $60,830 | $69,830 | $29.24 |
| Mississippi | 390 | $57,780 | $67,460 | $27.78 |
| Arkansas | 270 | $57,220 | $72,360 | $27.51 |
| Virgin Islands | 40 | $53,830 | $63,570 | $25.88 |
| Puerto Rico | 390 | $53,030 | $61,920 | $25.50 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Food Scientists and Technologists$88,720 a year
- Microbiologists$87,990 a year
- Epidemiologists$87,220 a year
- Soil and Plant Scientists$78,850 a year
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$76,780 a year
- Historians$76,750 a year
Common questions
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn in the United States?
The median pay was $82,220 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $52,520 and the highest-paid 10% more than $140,010.
How many people work as Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health?
About 89,250 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.