Average Salary for Conservation Scientists
SOC 19-1031 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Conservation Scientists in the United States is $67,950 ($32.67/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $45,260 at the 10th percentile to $107,720 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 25,590 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 9.8% since 2014.
Median Annual
$67,950
Mean Annual
$74,310
10th Pct
$45,260
75th Pct
$87,980
Employment
25,590
Salary Distribution
$45k
10th
$53k
25th
$68k
Median
$88k
75th
$108k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $105,680 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $98,930 |
| Salem, OR | $98,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $96,260 |
| Bend, OR | $94,310 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $91,770 |
| Medford, OR | $87,050 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $86,730 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $85,820 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $85,090 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $83,220 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $83,120 |
| Corvallis, OR | $82,950 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,890 |
| Boulder, CO | $82,080 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $86,170 |
| California | $81,620 |
| Washington | $81,220 |
| Colorado | $80,240 |
| Nevada | $79,790 |
| North Dakota | $79,790 |
| Connecticut | $77,410 |
| Utah | $77,380 |
| Minnesota | $77,180 |
| Wyoming | $77,020 |
| Massachusetts | $76,750 |
| Alabama | $76,270 |
| Arizona | $76,100 |
| Wisconsin | $75,940 |
| Alaska | $75,470 |
| Maryland | $75,350 |
| Tennessee | $74,960 |
| Nebraska | $74,960 |
| Montana | $74,900 |
| Idaho | $72,550 |
| Arkansas | $72,550 |
| Illinois | $72,550 |
| South Dakota | $72,550 |
| New Mexico | $72,490 |
| West Virginia | $68,390 |
| Georgia | $67,950 |
| New Hampshire | $67,720 |
| Virginia | $67,200 |
| New York | $65,550 |
| Texas | $65,170 |
| Maine | $64,990 |
| Iowa | $64,010 |
| Kentucky | $63,960 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,960 |
| Indiana | $62,880 |
| Oklahoma | $61,960 |
| Vermont | $61,880 |
| North Carolina | $61,820 |
| Michigan | $61,010 |
| Missouri | $60,900 |
| New Jersey | $60,430 |
| Ohio | $59,780 |
| Louisiana | $58,480 |
| Mississippi | $56,980 |
| Delaware | $55,990 |
| South Carolina | $54,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,110 |
| Florida | $52,820 |
| Hawaii | $46,580 |
| Kansas | $45,880 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Conservation Scientists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $129,390 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $92,190 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $86,940 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $86,940 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $79,970 |
| Employment Services | $79,970 |
| Real Estate | $77,590 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $77,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $76,990 |
| Engineering Services | $76,020 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $73,580 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $73,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,010 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,010 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $71,930 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $71,930 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $71,870 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $71,870 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $71,250 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $66,330 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $65,170 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $65,170 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $64,400 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $64,110 |
| Educational Services | $64,110 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $62,940 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $62,940 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $62,890 |
| Educational Services | $60,620 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $59,620 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $59,620 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $50,340 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $49,980 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $49,720 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $49,720 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $49,670 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $67,950 |
| 2023 | $68,750 |
| 2022 | $64,460 |
| 2021 | $63,750 |
| 2020 | $64,020 |
| 2019 | $62,660 |
| 2018 | $61,310 |
| 2017 | $61,480 |
| 2016 | $61,810 |
| 2015 | $61,110 |
| 2014 | $61,860 |