Conservation Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for conservation scientists is $73,010, or $35.10 per hour. About 25,950 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $99,400 in District of Columbia to $51,130 in Florida.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $99,400 | $47.79 | 110 | 0.97 |
| 2 | Colorado | $84,820 | $40.78 | 1,230 | 2.57 |
| 3 | Maryland | $83,290 | $40.04 | 470 | 1.02 |
| 4 | Idaho | $81,330 | $39.10 | 300 | 2.13 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $81,310 | $39.09 | 150 | 3.24 |
| 6 | Oregon | $80,790 | $38.84 | 1,020 | 3.10 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $80,190 | $38.56 | 190 | 0.60 |
| 8 | California | $79,810 | $38.37 | 2,110 | 0.69 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $79,540 | $38.24 | 970 | 1.97 |
| 10 | Alaska | $79,260 | $38.10 | 290 | 5.30 |
| 11 | Utah | $78,850 | $37.91 | 410 | 1.41 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $78,740 | $37.85 | 760 | 1.26 |
| 13 | Washington | $78,450 | $37.72 | 1,270 | 2.14 |
| 14 | Virginia | $77,380 | $37.20 | 480 | 0.70 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $77,280 | $37.15 | 340 | 4.70 |
| 16 | Alabama | $77,000 | $37.02 | 110 | 0.31 |
| 17 | New York | $76,990 | $37.01 | 640 | 0.40 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $76,800 | $36.92 | 330 | 2.25 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $76,400 | $36.73 | 360 | 4.66 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $76,400 | $36.73 | 220 | 1.30 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $76,130 | $36.60 | 60 | 0.66 |
| 22 | Maine | $75,900 | $36.49 | 290 | 2.75 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $74,650 | $35.89 | 130 | 1.14 |
| 24 | Montana | $73,920 | $35.54 | 560 | 6.53 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $73,860 | $35.51 | 140 | 0.50 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $73,320 | $35.25 | 230 | 1.06 |
| 27 | Nevada | $73,030 | $35.11 | 210 | 0.79 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $71,980 | $34.61 | 180 | 0.53 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $71,280 | $34.27 | 770 | 1.57 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $71,270 | $34.26 | 310 | 1.07 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $70,500 | $33.90 | 250 | 0.46 |
| 32 | Vermont | $70,130 | $33.72 | 100 | 2.00 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $69,910 | $33.61 | 160 | 1.39 |
| 34 | Illinois | $69,590 | $33.46 | 730 | 0.72 |
| 35 | Iowa | $69,240 | $33.29 | 610 | 2.36 |
| 36 | Georgia | $69,240 | $33.29 | 360 | 0.44 |
| 37 | Texas | $68,620 | $32.99 | 1,970 | 0.84 |
| 38 | Kansas | $67,200 | $32.31 | 220 | 0.91 |
| 39 | Arizona | $66,750 | $32.09 | 410 | 0.76 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $65,740 | $31.61 | 220 | 2.14 |
| 41 | Indiana | $64,570 | $31.04 | 430 | 0.80 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $64,460 | $30.99 | 540 | 0.65 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $64,020 | $30.78 | 500 | 0.70 |
| 44 | Delaware | $63,850 | $30.70 | 80 | 1.02 |
| 45 | Michigan | $63,500 | $30.53 | 820 | 1.12 |
| 46 | Ohio | $63,160 | $30.37 | 680 | 0.74 |
| 47 | Missouri | $63,130 | $30.35 | 600 | 1.22 |
| 48 | Pennsylvania | $61,480 | $29.56 | 900 | 0.89 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $59,510 | $28.61 | 470 | 2.42 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $52,310 | $25.15 | 300 | 0.78 |
| 51 | Florida | $51,130 | $24.58 | 950 | 0.57 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do conservation scientists make?
The median annual wage for conservation scientists in the United States is $73,010, or $35.10 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $47,550, and the top 10% earn $110,410.
How many conservation scientists are employed in the U.S.?
About 25,950 people work as conservation scientists nationwide.
Which state pays conservation scientists the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $99,400, followed by Colorado ($84,820) and Maryland ($83,290).
Which state pays conservation scientists the least?
Florida has the lowest median at $51,130.
Where are conservation scientists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Montana at 6.53×.