Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041) earn a median $82,220 a year ($39.53 an hour) in the United States, with 89,250 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What environmental scientists and specialists, including health do
Environmental scientists and specialists study the environment and human health effects of pollution and other hazards, and they look for ways to reduce or remove their sources. They use knowledge of various scientific disciplines to collect and analyze samples of air, water, soil, and other materials. Typical tasks include collecting, synthesizing, analyzing, managing, and reporting environmental data such as pollution emission measurements, monitoring the effects of pollution or land degradation and recommending ways to prevent or control them, and reviewing and applying technical standards, guidelines, and policies. They also communicate scientific information to the public, organizations, and internal staff. The occupation differs from environmental engineers, who design treatment and control systems, from conservation scientists, who manage natural resource lands, and from environmental science and protection technicians, who carry out sampling and tests under direction. They also process and review environmental permits and licenses, conduct environmental audits and inspections, and investigate violations.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Environmental Analyst, Environmental Consultant, Ecological Modeler, Air Analyst, Environmental Designer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $25.25 | $31.01 | $39.53 | $51.91 | $67.31 | $44.08 | 89,250 |
| Annual | $52,520 | $64,490 | $82,220 | $107,970 | $140,010 | $91,680 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where environmental scientists and specialists, including health earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $37.63 | $47.31 | $63.76 | $77.63 | $89.05 | $64.03 | 1,270 | 1.81 | 3.15 |
| Annual | $78,270 | $98,410 | $132,620 | $161,470 | $185,220 | $133,190 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $31.42 | $39.17 | $51.21 | $63.83 | $77.84 | $54.02 | 12,490 | 0.69 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $65,350 | $81,480 | $106,510 | $132,770 | $161,910 | $112,360 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $31.93 | $38.35 | $48.43 | $59.22 | $66.85 | $50.22 | 330 | 0.66 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $66,420 | $79,770 | $100,730 | $123,180 | $139,050 | $104,460 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $30.51 | $38.41 | $48.39 | $61.21 | $66.97 | $50.37 | 2,930 | 0.80 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $63,460 | $79,890 | $100,640 | $127,310 | $139,310 | $104,760 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $34.20 | $38.44 | $47.26 | $61.43 | $74.02 | $49.80 | 4,470 | 1.26 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $71,140 | $79,950 | $98,300 | $127,770 | $153,960 | $103,580 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $31.42 | $39.17 | $51.21 | $63.83 | $77.84 | $54.02 | 12,490 | 0.69 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $65,350 | $81,480 | $106,510 | $132,770 | $161,910 | $112,360 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.48 | $23.49 | $29.24 | $39.23 | $52.54 | $33.57 | 5,950 | 0.60 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $48,870 | $60,830 | $81,600 | $109,290 | $69,830 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $28.88 | $32.04 | $44.23 | $61.72 | $78.42 | $48.41 | 5,630 | 0.40 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $60,080 | $66,640 | $92,000 | $128,380 | $163,110 | $100,680 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $34.20 | $38.44 | $47.26 | $61.43 | $74.02 | $49.80 | 4,470 | 1.26 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $71,140 | $79,950 | $98,300 | $127,770 | $153,960 | $103,580 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $23.71 | $29.72 | $35.64 | $45.19 | $60.54 | $38.57 | 4,150 | 0.84 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $49,320 | $61,820 | $74,130 | $93,990 | $125,930 | $80,230 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $35.92 | $45.25 | $62.07 | $72.89 | $80.32 | $59.47 | 300 | 2.35 | 4.09 |
| Annual | $74,710 | $94,130 | $129,110 | $151,610 | $167,070 | $123,690 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $36.77 | $46.13 | $61.16 | $77.21 | $86.29 | $61.26 | 1,320 | 0.55 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $76,490 | $95,950 | $127,210 | $160,590 | $179,470 | $127,420 | ||||
| Monroe, MI | Hourly | $23.68 | $27.77 | $54.89 | $54.89 | $54.89 | $43.42 | 80 | 1.98 | 3.45 |
| Annual | $49,260 | $57,760 | $114,160 | $114,160 | $114,160 | $90,320 | ||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $29.93 | $39.36 | $53.01 | $59.60 | $75.36 | $51.49 | 170 | 0.53 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $62,250 | $81,880 | $110,260 | $123,970 | $156,760 | $107,100 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $37.88 | $43.85 | $52.75 | $62.42 | $77.08 | $55.22 | 40 | 0.48 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $78,780 | $91,200 | $109,710 | $129,840 | $160,330 | $114,860 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $34.07 | $41.76 | $52.13 | $64.15 | $77.52 | $54.60 | 3,520 | 3.25 | 5.67 |
| Annual | $70,860 | $86,870 | $108,430 | $133,440 | $161,240 | $113,580 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.52 | $32.80 | $41.11 | $51.78 | $69.11 | $45.13 | 3,350 | 0.35 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $55,170 | $68,220 | $85,510 | $107,700 | $143,750 | $93,870 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $32.91 | $40.38 | $52.00 | $71.56 | $88.63 | $56.75 | 2,710 | 0.86 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $68,450 | $83,980 | $108,160 | $148,850 | $184,350 | $118,040 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $29.02 | $36.69 | $50.64 | $64.15 | $77.87 | $51.87 | 2,520 | 0.40 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $60,350 | $76,320 | $105,340 | $133,440 | $161,970 | $107,900 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $37.96 | $39.06 | $49.51 | $61.56 | $74.88 | $52.87 | 2,490 | 1.19 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $78,950 | $81,240 | $102,980 | $128,050 | $155,760 | $109,980 | ||||
Top industries employing environmental scientists and specialists, including health
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 27.6% of environmental scientists and specialists, including health nationally (24,620 jobs) at a median $80,500 a year ($38.70 an hour), followed by Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (19.8%) and Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (14.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 24,620 | 27.6% | $80,500 | $38.70 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 17,650 | 19.8% | $79,320 | $38.14 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 12,920 | 14.5% | $79,770 | $38.35 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 12,190 | 13.7% | $81,580 | $39.22 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 5,390 | 6.0% | $116,110 | $55.82 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (89,250). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $76,530 for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in May 2021 and $82,220 in May 2025, with employment of 76,890 and 89,250.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $76,530 | $36.79 | 76,890 |
| May 2022 | $76,480 | $36.77 | 77,270 |
| May 2023 | $78,980 | $37.97 | 80,730 |
| May 2024 | $80,060 | $38.49 | 84,930 |
| May 2025 | $82,220 | $39.53 | 89,250 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $63.76 | $132,620 | $78,270 | $185,220 | 1,270 | 1.81 | 3.15 |
| 2 | California profile | $51.21 | $106,510 | $65,350 | $161,910 | 12,490 | 0.69 | 1.19 |
| 3 | Rhode Island profile | $48.43 | $100,730 | $66,420 | $139,050 | 330 | 0.66 | 1.15 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $48.39 | $100,640 | $63,460 | $139,310 | 2,930 | 0.80 | 1.40 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $47.26 | $98,300 | $71,140 | $153,960 | 4,470 | 1.26 | 2.19 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $46.85 | $97,440 | $62,200 | $132,190 | 1,370 | 0.70 | 1.21 |
| 7 | Texas profile | $44.23 | $92,000 | $60,080 | $163,110 | 5,630 | 0.40 | 0.70 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $44.21 | $91,960 | $61,840 | $147,910 | 860 | 2.63 | 4.59 |
| 9 | Utah profile | $43.61 | $90,710 | $55,410 | $149,990 | 1,020 | 0.59 | 1.02 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $42.31 | $88,000 | $35,510 | $133,570 | 2,260 | 0.77 | 1.34 |
| 11 | New Mexico profile | $41.65 | $86,630 | $60,920 | $129,080 | 940 | 1.08 | 1.88 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $41.34 | $85,990 | $65,260 | $140,340 | 2,580 | 0.90 | 1.56 |
| 13 | Georgia profile | $41.21 | $85,710 | $56,470 | $162,410 | 1,750 | 0.36 | 0.62 |
| 14 | North Dakota profile | $40.66 | $84,570 | $60,110 | $109,300 | 240 | 0.55 | 0.96 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $40.48 | $84,190 | $57,840 | $137,440 | 1,760 | 0.64 | 1.11 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | $39.93 | $83,050 | $57,570 | $138,740 | 490 | 0.32 | 0.55 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $39.53 | $82,230 | $57,720 | $135,580 | 2,850 | 0.69 | 1.21 |
| 18 | New York profile | $39.50 | $82,160 | $58,240 | $139,490 | 3,700 | 0.38 | 0.67 |
| 19 | West Virginia profile | $39.47 | $82,100 | $51,520 | $119,020 | 250 | 0.36 | 0.63 |
| 20 | Connecticut profile | $39.46 | $82,070 | $60,820 | $130,620 | 620 | 0.37 | 0.64 |
| 21 | Illinois profile | $39.23 | $81,590 | $46,540 | $153,150 | 1,550 | 0.25 | 0.44 |
| 22 | New Hampshire profile | $38.85 | $80,810 | $59,230 | $111,840 | 480 | 0.71 | 1.23 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $38.75 | $80,600 | $57,100 | $160,910 | 1,970 | 0.61 | 1.06 |
| 24 | Montana profile | $38.59 | $80,260 | $64,290 | $124,800 | 570 | 1.12 | 1.94 |
| 25 | Hawaii profile | $38.23 | $79,510 | $53,500 | $111,700 | 670 | 1.06 | 1.85 |
| 26 | New Jersey profile | $38.08 | $79,210 | $52,760 | $130,590 | 3,150 | 0.74 | 1.28 |
| 27 | Iowa profile | $37.88 | $78,780 | $54,340 | $117,040 | 690 | 0.44 | 0.77 |
| 28 | Ohio profile | $37.76 | $78,540 | $50,610 | $109,490 | 2,460 | 0.44 | 0.77 |
| 29 | Kansas profile | $37.60 | $78,210 | $56,120 | $136,990 | 590 | 0.41 | 0.72 |
| 30 | Vermont profile | $37.24 | $77,460 | $58,570 | $111,700 | 490 | 1.60 | 2.79 |
| 31 | Tennessee profile | $36.94 | $76,840 | $54,040 | $133,180 | 1,230 | 0.37 | 0.65 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.59 | $76,110 | $50,660 | $125,520 | 3,020 | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| 33 | Michigan profile | $36.58 | $76,080 | $52,300 | $111,770 | 3,100 | 0.70 | 1.23 |
| 34 | Oklahoma profile | $36.49 | $75,910 | $43,590 | $119,150 | 520 | 0.30 | 0.53 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $36.02 | $74,910 | $46,200 | $133,470 | 490 | 0.21 | 0.37 |
| 36 | North Carolina profile | $35.64 | $74,130 | $49,320 | $125,930 | 4,150 | 0.84 | 1.46 |
| 37 | Wyoming profile | $35.60 | $74,050 | $58,510 | $100,670 | 410 | 1.46 | 2.55 |
| 38 | Wisconsin profile | $35.01 | $72,820 | $48,580 | $104,360 | 920 | 0.31 | 0.54 |
| 39 | Alabama profile | $34.85 | $72,490 | $41,260 | $114,900 | 870 | 0.41 | 0.72 |
| 40 | Kentucky profile | $34.16 | $71,040 | $48,540 | $94,840 | 1,000 | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| 41 | Idaho profile | $33.82 | $70,350 | $53,360 | $108,100 | 670 | 0.78 | 1.36 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $33.57 | $69,820 | $49,890 | $132,810 | 1,600 | 0.83 | 1.44 |
| 43 | South Dakota profile | $32.80 | $68,230 | $49,390 | $97,060 | 240 | 0.52 | 0.91 |
| 44 | Maine profile | $31.96 | $66,480 | $49,280 | $107,100 | 530 | 0.84 | 1.45 |
| 45 | Indiana profile | $31.11 | $64,700 | $46,830 | $124,380 | 1,290 | 0.40 | 0.70 |
| 46 | Delaware profile | $31.10 | $64,690 | $50,220 | $106,060 | 290 | 0.60 | 1.04 |
| 47 | Nebraska profile | $30.79 | $64,040 | $52,110 | $101,190 | 510 | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| 48 | Missouri profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $49,140 | $88,710 | 1,380 | 0.47 | 0.82 |
| 49 | Florida profile | $29.24 | $60,830 | $42,600 | $109,290 | 5,950 | 0.60 | 1.04 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $27.78 | $57,780 | $37,230 | $112,260 | 390 | 0.33 | 0.58 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $27.51 | $57,220 | $35,580 | $122,270 | 270 | 0.21 | 0.36 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-2040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-2041 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-2041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-2041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.