Conservation Scientist salary in Virginia
Conservation Scientists in Virginia earn a median of $77,380 a year ($37.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $73,010. Virginia ranks 14th of 51 states for conservation scientists pay. There are 0.12 conservation scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $92,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for conservation scientists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| 25th percentile | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Median | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| 75th percentile | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,470 | $77.63 |
| Average (mean) | $92,610 | $44.53 |
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 | $6,448.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,224.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,976.15 |
| Weekly | $1,488.08 |
| Hourly | $37.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Conservation Scientist salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,360 | 490 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $68,560 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $66,180 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $63,790 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for conservation scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,400 |
| Colorado | $84,820 |
| Maryland | $83,290 |
| Idaho | $81,330 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 |
| Oregon | $80,790 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 |
| California | $79,810 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| Forester | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| Microbiologist | $77,820 | $37.41 |
| Epidemiologist | $84,930 | $40.83 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,780 | $50.86 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $93,590 | $44.99 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for conservation scientists in Virginia is $77,380 a year, or $37.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid conservation scientists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of conservation scientists in Virginia earn at least $161,470 a year. The top 25% earn $108,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for conservation scientists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,910 a year, and a quarter of conservation scientists earn $60,190 or less.
How many conservation scientists work in Virginia?
About 480 conservation scientists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.