Conservation Scientist Salary
Conservation Scientists earn a median $73,010 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$73,010
$35.10 per hour
Range
$47,550 – $110,410
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
25,950
across the U.S.
Conservation Scientist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$60,193
per year · effective tax rate 17.6%
$5,016Monthly
$2,508Twice a month
$2,315Every 2 weeks
$28.94Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,232
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,527
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,059
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$60,193
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,550 | $22.86 | $40,386 |
| 25th percentile | $57,700 | $27.74 | $48,542 |
| Median (50th) | $73,010 | $35.10 | $60,193 |
| 75th percentile | $91,560 | $44.02 | $73,242 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,410 | $53.08 | $86,503 |
Best cities for conservation scientists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $99,360 | $73,253 | $67,276 | 490 |
| 2 | Fort Collins, CO | $84,820 | $65,477 | $64,747 | 650 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $83,580 | $61,145 | $58,001 | 450 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,580 | $60,402 | $55,790 | 480 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $64,020 | $50,760 | $45,095 | 590 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $99,360
- Fort Collins, CO — $84,820
- Portland, OR — $83,580
- Boston, MA — $78,580
- New York, NY — $64,020
Conservation Scientist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,400 | $73,277 | $66,130 – $142,430 | 110 |
| Colorado | $84,820 | $65,477 | $57,710 – $134,350 | 1,230 |
| Maryland | $83,290 | $63,832 | $57,760 – $128,610 | 470 |
| Idaho | $81,330 | $62,843 | $47,300 – $99,560 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 | $66,032 | $49,940 – $100,420 | 150 |
| Oregon | $80,790 | $59,426 | $61,110 – $130,400 | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 | $63,224 | $29,520 – $136,990 | 190 |
| California | $79,810 | $60,746 | $53,650 – $132,060 | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 | $61,951 | $47,440 – $102,750 | 970 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | $64,589 | $53,830 – $135,120 | 290 |
| Utah | $78,850 | $61,719 | $55,090 – $104,000 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $78,740 | $60,507 | $51,070 – $119,460 | 760 |
| Washington | $78,450 | $64,020 | $59,700 – $106,710 | 1,270 |
| Virginia | $77,380 | $59,632 | $45,910 – $161,470 | 480 |
| North Dakota | $77,280 | $62,949 | $51,470 – $109,300 | 340 |
| Alabama | $77,000 | $59,415 | $48,730 – $115,590 | 110 |
| New York | $76,990 | $59,432 | $46,580 – $115,210 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $76,800 | $60,415 | $46,520 – $111,010 | 330 |
| Nebraska | $76,400 | $59,981 | $54,500 – $106,330 | 220 |
| South Dakota | $76,400 | $62,577 | $51,100 – $100,420 | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $76,130 | $60,149 | $56,580 – $173,650 | 60 |
| Maine | $75,900 | $58,284 | $48,150 – $107,680 | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $74,650 | $61,346 | $44,340 – $103,710 | 130 |
| Montana | $73,920 | $58,017 | $48,660 – $106,330 | 560 |
| Connecticut | $73,860 | $58,303 | $65,430 – $123,320 | 140 |
| Arkansas | $73,320 | $57,764 | $51,630 – $109,300 | 230 |
| Nevada | $73,030 | $60,207 | $36,780 – $107,920 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $71,980 | $57,066 | $45,710 – $106,330 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $71,280 | $55,652 | $45,740 – $106,330 | 770 |
| Oklahoma | $71,270 | $56,307 | $42,000 – $106,420 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | $58,427 | $48,190 – $109,300 | 250 |
| Vermont | $70,130 | $55,998 | $49,750 – $105,420 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $69,910 | $55,577 | $42,670 – $133,470 | 160 |
| Illinois | $69,590 | $54,487 | $42,020 – $117,590 | 730 |
| Georgia | $69,240 | $54,570 | $49,230 – $137,450 | 360 |
| Iowa | $69,240 | $55,561 | $50,320 – $97,870 | 610 |
| Texas | $68,620 | $57,104 | $53,440 – $92,320 | 1,970 |
| Kansas | $67,200 | $53,155 | $48,440 – $105,370 | 220 |
| Arizona | $66,750 | $54,329 | $47,410 – $104,750 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $65,740 | $51,536 | $42,300 – $132,020 | 220 |
| Indiana | $64,570 | $52,187 | $39,200 – $105,020 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $64,460 | $51,910 | $47,190 – $111,740 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $64,020 | $51,631 | $50,340 – $107,240 | 500 |
| Delaware | $63,850 | $50,610 | $48,650 – $89,990 | 80 |
| Michigan | $63,500 | $50,754 | $44,680 – $109,300 | 820 |
| Ohio | $63,160 | $51,975 | $44,070 – $99,780 | 680 |
| Missouri | $63,130 | $50,875 | $44,570 – $97,680 | 600 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,480 | $49,692 | $38,560 – $93,100 | 900 |
| Mississippi | $59,510 | $48,348 | $42,160 – $106,330 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $52,310 | $42,230 | $37,810 – $96,100 | 300 |
| Florida | $51,130 | $43,263 | $37,110 – $98,360 | 950 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a conservation scientist make?
The national median salary for conservation scientists is $73,010 a year ($35.10 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,550 and the top 10% earn over $110,410. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays conservation scientists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $99,400. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many conservation scientists are there in the U.S.?
About 25,950 people work as conservation scientists nationwide.