Conservation Scientist salary in the U.S.
Conservation Scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $73,010 a year ($35.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,410 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $77,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for conservation scientists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| 25th percentile | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Median | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| 75th percentile | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,410 | $53.08 |
| Average (mean) | $77,130 | $37.08 |
Half of conservation scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,084.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,042.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,808.08 |
| Weekly | $1,404.04 |
| Hourly | $35.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Conservation Scientist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,400 | 110 |
| Colorado | $84,820 | 1,230 |
| Maryland | $83,290 | 470 |
| Idaho | $81,330 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 | 150 |
| Oregon | $80,790 | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 | 190 |
| California | $79,810 | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 | 970 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | 290 |
| Utah | $78,850 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $78,740 | 760 |
| Washington | $78,450 | 1,270 |
| Virginia | $77,380 | 480 |
| North Dakota | $77,280 | 340 |
| Alabama | $77,000 | 110 |
| New York | $76,990 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $76,800 | 330 |
| Nebraska | $76,400 | 220 |
| South Dakota | $76,400 | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $76,130 | 60 |
| Maine | $75,900 | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $74,650 | 130 |
| Montana | $73,920 | 560 |
| Connecticut | $73,860 | 140 |
| Arkansas | $73,320 | 230 |
| Nevada | $73,030 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $71,980 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $71,280 | 770 |
| Puerto Rico | $71,280 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $71,270 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | 250 |
| Vermont | $70,130 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $69,910 | 160 |
| Illinois | $69,590 | 730 |
| Georgia | $69,240 | 360 |
| Iowa | $69,240 | 610 |
| Texas | $68,620 | 1,970 |
| Kansas | $67,200 | 220 |
| Arizona | $66,750 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $65,740 | 220 |
| Indiana | $64,570 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $64,460 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $64,020 | 500 |
| Delaware | $63,850 | 80 |
| Michigan | $63,500 | 820 |
| Ohio | $63,160 | 680 |
| Missouri | $63,130 | 600 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,480 | 900 |
| Mississippi | $59,510 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $52,310 | 300 |
| Florida | $51,130 | 950 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,080 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for conservation scientists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $110,200 | 70 |
| Springfield, IL | $107,990 | 40 |
| Boulder, CO | $101,380 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,360 | 490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,810 | 410 |
| Salem, OR | $95,470 | 90 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $93,470 | 170 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $86,770 | 50 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $86,070 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $85,110 | 260 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $84,820 | 650 |
| Missoula, MT | $84,250 | 80 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,580 | 450 |
| Bend, OR | $82,630 | 100 |
| Carson City, NV | $82,420 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most conservation scientists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 650 | $84,820 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 590 | $64,020 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 490 | $99,360 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 480 | $78,580 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 450 | $83,580 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 430 | $68,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 410 | $97,810 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 370 | $62,710 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 320 | $78,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 310 | $76,940 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 310 | $75,090 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 310 | $58,590 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 310 | $82,380 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 290 | $60,520 |
| Madison, WI | 260 | $85,110 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a conservation scientist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for conservation scientists in the U.S. is $73,010 a year, or $35.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid conservation scientists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of conservation scientists in the U.S. earn at least $110,410 a year. The top 25% earn $91,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for conservation scientists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,550 a year, and a quarter of conservation scientists earn $57,700 or less.
How many conservation scientists work in the U.S.?
About 25,950 conservation scientists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.