All careersEngineering & science

Environmental Scientist

$82,220
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Study the environment to protect human health, testing samples and advising on pollution and cleanup.

Where you work

Labs, offices, and outdoor field sites; travel to sites is common.

The hours

Usually full-time; fieldwork can mean travel and irregular hours.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$82,220
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~8,500
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4%
About average
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: A science degree.

License or certification

No license required in general; some specialties value certification.

What it takes

Analytical thinkingProblem solvingCommunicationAttention to detail

The honest take

Climate compliance work is growing in every state.

Standard Occupational Classification 19-2041. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.