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Top 15 cities for conservation scientists by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $118,820 |
|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $108,770 |
| Springfield, IL | $105,360 |
| Amherst, MA | $99,360 |
| San Francisco, CA | $99,130 |
| Boulder, CO | $98,160 |
| Portland, OR | $97,290 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $96,480 |
| Denver, CO | $95,280 |
| Durham, NC | $94,080 |
| Salem, OR | $93,780 |
| Sacramento, CA | $92,500 |
| Seattle, WA | $92,380 |
| Trenton, NJ | $90,470 |
| Corvallis, OR | $89,970 |
Map: Conservation Scientists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Conservation Scientists salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays conservation scientists the most statewide, $99,050 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $99,050 | $99,400 | 110 | 1 | $108,770 | $108,770 |
| Virginia | $92,610 | $77,380 | 480 | 3 | $77,390 | $70,680 |
| Rhode Island | $92,230 | $76,130 | 60 | 1 | $87,550 | $87,550 |
| Maryland | $89,820 | $83,290 | 470 | 1 | $86,680 | $86,680 |
| Oregon | $89,550 | $80,790 | 1,020 | 6 | $97,290 | $65,410 |
| Colorado | $89,530 | $84,820 | 1,230 | 3 | $98,160 | $87,190 |
| Alaska | $88,860 | $79,260 | 290 | 2 | $87,460 | $87,310 |
| California | $88,030 | $79,810 | 2,110 | 13 | $118,820 | $77,420 |
| Massachusetts | $82,710 | $78,740 | 760 | 4 | $99,360 | $80,630 |
| Louisiana | $81,950 | $80,190 | 190 | 1 | $75,570 | $75,570 |
| Washington | $81,300 | $78,450 | 1,270 | 7 | $92,380 | $74,550 |
| Georgia | $81,120 | $69,240 | 360 | 1 | $80,960 | $80,960 |
| Connecticut | $80,940 | $73,860 | 140 | 1 | $75,620 | $75,620 |
| Alabama | $80,870 | $77,000 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Utah | $80,840 | $78,850 | 410 | 2 | $85,440 | $73,350 |
| New York | $80,440 | $76,990 | 640 | 3 | $74,430 | $63,480 |
| North Dakota | $79,540 | $77,280 | 340 | 1 | $81,410 | $81,410 |
| New Mexico | $79,030 | $76,800 | 330 | 2 | $87,790 | $72,240 |
| Wyoming | $78,740 | $81,310 | 150 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $77,930 | $76,400 | 220 | 2 | $80,630 | $73,620 |
| Wisconsin | $77,760 | $79,540 | 970 | 5 | $83,870 | $68,000 |
| Arkansas | $77,620 | $73,320 | 230 | 1 | $80,030 | $80,030 |
| Maine | $77,100 | $75,900 | 290 | 1 | $80,540 | $80,540 |
| Idaho | $76,560 | $81,330 | 300 | 1 | $75,040 | $75,040 |
| Montana | $76,360 | $73,920 | 560 | 3 | $89,220 | $74,380 |
| Hawaii | $76,190 | $65,740 | 220 | 2 | $83,250 | $55,630 |
| South Dakota | $76,060 | $76,400 | 360 | 1 | $73,830 | $73,830 |
| Illinois | $75,750 | $69,590 | 730 | 3 | $105,360 | $65,170 |
| West Virginia | $75,350 | $69,910 | 160 | 1 | $83,560 | $83,560 |
| Tennessee | $75,250 | $70,500 | 250 | 1 | $82,080 | $82,080 |
| Kentucky | $74,970 | $71,980 | 180 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $74,570 | $71,280 | 770 | 2 | $81,800 | $77,450 |
| Puerto Rico | $74,470 | $71,280 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $74,300 | $74,650 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | $74,140 | $63,500 | 820 | 4 | $82,790 | $64,300 |
| Vermont | $73,780 | $70,130 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $72,850 | $67,200 | 220 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nevada | $72,640 | $73,030 | 210 | 3 | $86,630 | $55,790 |
| North Carolina | $72,190 | $64,460 | 540 | 4 | $94,080 | $56,270 |
| Oklahoma | $72,090 | $71,270 | 310 | 2 | $71,310 | $69,990 |
| Iowa | $71,620 | $69,240 | 610 | 2 | $76,080 | $70,790 |
| Arizona | $71,390 | $66,750 | 410 | 3 | $82,950 | $64,140 |
| Texas | $71,060 | $68,620 | 1,970 | 10 | $80,980 | $63,600 |
| New Jersey | $69,610 | $64,020 | 500 | 1 | $90,470 | $90,470 |
| Indiana | $68,990 | $64,570 | 430 | 1 | $65,790 | $65,790 |
| Missouri | $67,070 | $63,130 | 600 | 4 | $73,540 | $59,160 |
| Mississippi | $66,940 | $59,510 | 470 | 2 | $63,240 | $51,810 |
| Ohio | $66,660 | $63,160 | 680 | 5 | $75,090 | $62,400 |
| Delaware | $66,560 | $63,850 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $63,760 | $61,480 | 900 | 6 | $65,440 | $58,470 |
| Florida | $61,760 | $51,130 | 950 | 8 | $72,940 | $55,330 |
| South Carolina | $60,250 | $52,310 | 300 | 2 | $62,650 | $55,320 |
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Conservation Scientists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $118,820 | $110,200 | $57.13 | 70 |
| Washington, DC | $108,770 | $99,360 | $52.29 | 490 |
| Springfield, IL | $105,360 | $107,990 | $50.66 | 40 |
| Amherst, MA | $99,360 | $80,290 | $47.77 | 80 |
| San Francisco, CA | $99,130 | $97,810 | $47.66 | 410 |
| Boulder, CO | $98,160 | $101,380 | $47.19 | 70 |
| Portland, OR | $97,290 | $83,580 | $46.77 | 450 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $96,480 | $72,860 | $46.39 | 50 |
| Denver, CO | $95,280 | $81,190 | $45.81 | 230 |
| Durham, NC | $94,080 | $81,780 | $45.23 | 50 |
| Salem, OR | $93,780 | $95,470 | $45.09 | 90 |
| Sacramento, CA | $92,500 | $78,980 | $44.47 | 220 |
| Seattle, WA | $92,380 | $82,380 | $44.41 | 310 |
| Trenton, NJ | $90,470 | $86,770 | $43.50 | 50 |
| Corvallis, OR | $89,970 | $74,410 | $43.25 | 60 |
| Missoula, MT | $89,220 | $84,250 | $42.90 | 80 |
| Bend, OR | $88,510 | $82,630 | $42.55 | 100 |
| Salinas, CA | $88,500 | $77,020 | $42.55 | 50 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $88,130 | $78,340 | $42.37 | 50 |
| Barnstable, MA | $88,040 | $82,090 | $42.33 | 60 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $87,790 | $79,420 | $42.21 | 90 |
| Providence, RI | $87,550 | $80,880 | $42.09 | 90 |
| Anchorage, AK | $87,460 | $76,430 | $42.05 | 170 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $87,310 | $77,640 | $41.97 | 50 |
| Raleigh, NC | $87,300 | $79,230 | $41.97 | n/a |
| Fort Collins, CO | $87,190 | $84,820 | $41.92 | 650 |
| Baltimore, MD | $86,680 | $77,860 | $41.67 | 170 |
| Carson City, NV | $86,630 | $82,420 | $41.65 | n/a |
| San Diego, CA | $85,940 | $78,200 | $41.32 | 150 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $85,840 | $80,900 | $41.27 | 90 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $85,440 | $93,470 | $41.08 | 170 |
| Oxnard, CA | $85,140 | $80,150 | $40.93 | 40 |
| La Crosse, WI | $83,870 | $79,440 | $40.32 | 50 |
| Charleston, WV | $83,560 | $81,760 | $40.18 | n/a |
| Honolulu, HI | $83,250 | $65,740 | $40.02 | 110 |
| Madison, WI | $83,090 | $85,110 | $39.95 | 260 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $82,950 | $79,310 | $39.88 | 60 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $82,790 | $65,110 | $39.80 | 60 |
| Champaign, IL | $82,690 | $64,470 | $39.76 | 40 |
| Nashville, TN | $82,080 | $76,210 | $39.46 | 50 |
| Worcester, MA | $81,840 | $77,620 | $39.35 | 50 |
| Duluth, MN | $81,800 | $79,680 | $39.33 | 40 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $81,560 | $86,070 | $39.21 | 30 |
| Medford, OR | $81,430 | $76,960 | $39.15 | 40 |
| Bismarck, ND | $81,410 | $78,850 | $39.14 | 50 |
| Lubbock, TX | $80,980 | $77,980 | $38.93 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $80,960 | $69,380 | $38.92 | 170 |
| Green Bay, WI | $80,800 | $81,560 | $38.85 | 40 |
| Boston, MA | $80,630 | $78,580 | $38.77 | 480 |
| Lincoln, NE | $80,630 | $81,170 | $38.77 | 40 |
| Portland, ME | $80,540 | $78,440 | $38.72 | 130 |
| Olympia, WA | $80,210 | $78,460 | $38.56 | 320 |
| Riverside, CA | $80,140 | $75,900 | $38.53 | 100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $80,060 | $76,940 | $38.49 | 310 |
| Little Rock, AR | $80,030 | $73,920 | $38.48 | 70 |
| Lansing, MI | $79,110 | $67,580 | $38.04 | 120 |
| Bellingham, WA | $79,080 | $77,600 | $38.02 | 50 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $78,800 | $78,460 | $37.89 | 40 |
| Bozeman, MT | $78,200 | $75,430 | $37.59 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,450 | $76,770 | $37.24 | 30 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $77,450 | $75,090 | $37.24 | 310 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $77,420 | $77,280 | $37.22 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,390 | $66,180 | $37.21 | 60 |
| Yakima, WA | $77,070 | $78,460 | $37.05 | 30 |
| Des Moines, IA | $76,080 | $76,540 | $36.58 | 100 |
| Asheville, NC | $76,000 | $65,170 | $36.54 | 60 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $75,620 | $71,460 | $36.36 | n/a |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $75,570 | $61,110 | $36.33 | 50 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $75,090 | $67,080 | $36.10 | 50 |
| Boise, ID | $75,040 | $67,200 | $36.08 | 70 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $74,980 | $68,560 | $36.05 | 30 |
| Spokane, WA | $74,980 | $74,320 | $36.05 | 80 |
| Bremerton, WA | $74,550 | $77,190 | $35.84 | 40 |
| New York, NY | $74,430 | $64,020 | $35.78 | 590 |
| Helena, MT | $74,380 | $69,240 | $35.76 | 50 |
| Rapid City, SD | $73,830 | $70,450 | $35.49 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE | $73,620 | $74,210 | $35.39 | 50 |
| Kansas City, MO | $73,540 | $63,050 | $35.36 | 40 |
| Provo, UT | $73,350 | $67,200 | $35.26 | 30 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $73,150 | $70,300 | $35.17 | 140 |
| Tampa, FL | $72,940 | $61,690 | $35.07 | 90 |
| Gainesville, FL | $72,900 | $65,480 | $35.05 | 40 |
| Springfield, MO | $72,750 | $66,230 | $34.98 | 40 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $72,240 | $72,280 | $34.73 | 60 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $71,350 | $54,170 | $34.30 | 70 |
| Tulsa, OK | $71,310 | $67,200 | $34.29 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $71,160 | $66,110 | $34.21 | 120 |
| Davenport, IA | $70,790 | $69,590 | $34.03 | 40 |
| Austin, TX | $70,780 | $68,620 | $34.03 | 430 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $70,680 | $63,790 | $33.98 | 40 |
| Reno, NV | $70,650 | $68,090 | $33.97 | 80 |
| Tyler, TX | $70,640 | $69,880 | $33.96 | 70 |
| Syracuse, NY | $70,430 | $65,480 | $33.86 | 30 |
| Dallas, TX | $70,290 | $68,620 | $33.79 | 130 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $69,990 | $63,130 | $33.65 | 70 |
| Orlando, FL | $69,220 | $61,630 | $33.28 | 50 |
| Sarasota, FL | $68,490 | $63,370 | $32.93 | 50 |
| Amarillo, TX | $68,180 | $64,680 | $32.78 | 40 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $68,000 | $66,680 | $32.69 | 100 |
| San Antonio, TX | $67,510 | $66,120 | $32.46 | 120 |
| Beaumont, TX | $67,420 | $68,620 | $32.41 | 60 |
| Waco, TX | $67,240 | $68,620 | $32.33 | 40 |
| Brownsville, TX | $67,190 | $68,620 | $32.30 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO | $66,950 | $62,390 | $32.19 | 150 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $65,790 | $65,280 | $31.63 | 120 |
| Allentown, PA | $65,440 | $64,910 | $31.46 | 50 |
| Eugene, OR | $65,410 | $61,370 | $31.45 | 50 |
| Cleveland, OH | $65,400 | $63,160 | $31.44 | 150 |
| Chicago, IL | $65,170 | $62,710 | $31.33 | 370 |
| Detroit, MI | $64,300 | $57,110 | $30.91 | 120 |
| Tucson, AZ | $64,140 | $55,990 | $30.84 | 100 |
| Dayton, OH | $63,870 | $62,460 | $30.71 | 50 |
| Houston, TX | $63,600 | $60,520 | $30.58 | 290 |
| Rochester, NY | $63,480 | $66,990 | $30.52 | 50 |
| Jackson, MS | $63,240 | $59,070 | $30.40 | 180 |
| Charleston, SC | $62,650 | $57,550 | $30.12 | 60 |
| Akron, OH | $62,400 | $66,420 | $30.00 | 100 |
| Scranton, PA | $61,950 | $54,250 | $29.79 | 30 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $61,450 | $58,590 | $29.54 | 310 |
| Reading, PA | $61,100 | $60,000 | $29.37 | 30 |
| Miami, FL | $60,510 | $51,130 | $29.09 | 210 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $60,340 | $49,880 | $29.01 | 60 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $59,160 | $56,310 | $28.44 | 220 |
| Lancaster, PA | $58,940 | $54,350 | $28.34 | 50 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $58,840 | $43,680 | $28.29 | 30 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $58,470 | $58,960 | $28.11 | 120 |
| Charlotte, NC | $56,270 | $50,300 | $27.05 | 150 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $55,790 | $36,780 | $26.82 | 40 |
| Kahului, HI | $55,630 | $47,100 | $26.75 | 50 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $55,330 | $46,260 | $26.60 | 40 |
| Columbia, SC | $55,320 | $45,910 | $26.60 | 80 |
| Gulfport, MS | $51,810 | $48,300 | $24.91 | 80 |
Related jobs
- Food Scientists and TechnologistsU.S. average $95,360
- Biochemists and BiophysicistsU.S. average $129,840
- Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsU.S. average $83,020
- Biological Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $106,330
- EpidemiologistsU.S. average $97,890
- Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsU.S. average $116,840
- Life Scientists, All OtherU.S. average $107,860
- MicrobiologistsU.S. average $97,600
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Conservation Scientists salary: questions
Where do conservation scientists make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $118,820 a year, among the 132 metro areas we cover.
What is the average conservation scientists salary in the U.S.?
$77,130 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $73,010, so half of conservation scientists earn more than that and half less.
What salary should conservation scientists ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of conservation scientists nationwide earn between $57,700 (25th percentile) and $91,560 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays conservation scientists the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $99,050 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is conservation scientists pay the lowest?
Gulfport, MS, at $51,810 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1031.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.