Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,550
- 25th Percentile — Junior$57,700
- 50th Percentile — Median$73,010
- 75th Percentile — Senior$91,560
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$110,410
The top 10% of Conservation Scientists earn $110,410 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $47,550, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,050 | +28.4% |
| Virginia | $92,610 | +20.1% |
| Rhode Island | $92,230 | +19.6% |
| Maryland | $89,820 | +16.5% |
| Oregon | $89,550 | +16.1% |
| Colorado | $89,530 | +16.1% |
| Alaska | $88,860 | +15.2% |
| California | $88,030 | +14.1% |
| Massachusetts | $82,710 | +7.2% |
| Louisiana | $81,950 | +6.2% |
| Washington | $81,300 | +5.4% |
| Georgia | $81,120 | +5.2% |
| Connecticut | $80,940 | +4.9% |
| Alabama | $80,870 | +4.8% |
| Utah | $80,840 | +4.8% |
| New York | $80,440 | +4.3% |
| North Dakota | $79,540 | +3.1% |
| New Mexico | $79,030 | +2.5% |
| Wyoming | $78,740 | +2.1% |
| Nebraska | $77,930 | +1.0% |
| Wisconsin | $77,760 | +0.8% |
| Arkansas | $77,620 | +0.6% |
| Maine | $77,100 | +0.0% |
| Idaho | $76,560 | -0.7% |
| Montana | $76,360 | -1.0% |
| Hawaii | $76,190 | -1.2% |
| South Dakota | $76,060 | -1.4% |
| Illinois | $75,750 | -1.8% |
| West Virginia | $75,350 | -2.3% |
| Tennessee | $75,250 | -2.4% |
| Kentucky | $74,970 | -2.8% |
| Minnesota | $74,570 | -3.3% |
| New Hampshire | $74,300 | -3.7% |
| Michigan | $74,140 | -3.9% |
| Vermont | $73,780 | -4.3% |
| Kansas | $72,850 | -5.5% |
| Nevada | $72,640 | -5.8% |
| North Carolina | $72,190 | -6.4% |
| Oklahoma | $72,090 | -6.5% |
| Iowa | $71,620 | -7.1% |
| Arizona | $71,390 | -7.4% |
| Texas | $71,060 | -7.9% |
| New Jersey | $69,610 | -9.7% |
| Indiana | $68,990 | -10.6% |
| Missouri | $67,070 | -13.0% |
| Mississippi | $66,940 | -13.2% |
| Ohio | $66,660 | -13.6% |
| Delaware | $66,560 | -13.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $63,760 | -17.3% |
| Florida | $61,760 | -19.9% |
| South Carolina | $60,250 | -21.9% |
What Factors Affect Conservation Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Conservation Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $99,050, while South Carolina pays $60,250 — a gap of $38,800 per year.
The middle half of Conservation Scientists earn between $57,700 and $91,560 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,550, while the top 10% earn more than $110,410.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Conservation Scientists?
The average salary for Conservation Scientists in the United States is $77,130 per year, with a median of $73,010.
What is the starting salary for Conservation Scientists?
Entry-level Conservation Scientists typically earn between $47,550 and $57,700 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Conservation Scientists the most?
District of Columbia pays Conservation Scientists the most at $99,050 per year on average, followed by Virginia ($92,610) and Rhode Island ($92,230).
How much do Conservation Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $77,130, Conservation Scientists earn approximately $37.08 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Conservation Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 25,950 Conservation Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $77,130 and a median of $73,010 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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