Environmental Scientist and Specialist salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An environmental scientist and specialist earns a median of $82,220 a year ($39.53 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $91,680. About 89,250 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $82,220
- Gross pay
- $3,162.31
- Federal income tax
- −$356.09
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$196.06
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$45.85
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,564.30
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $82,220
- Federal
- $9,258
- FICA
- $6,290
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $66,672
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Environmental Scientist and Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $132,620 | $133,190 | 1,270 |
| California | $106,510 | $112,360 | 12,490 |
| Rhode Island | $100,730 | $104,460 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | $104,760 | 2,930 |
| Washington | $98,300 | $103,580 | 4,470 |
| Oregon | $97,440 | $97,100 | 1,370 |
| Texas | $92,000 | $100,680 | 5,630 |
| Alaska | $91,960 | $100,490 | 860 |
| Utah | $90,710 | $98,090 | 1,020 |
| Minnesota | $88,000 | $87,840 | 2,260 |
| New Mexico | $86,630 | $92,050 | 940 |
| Colorado | $85,990 | $98,930 | 2,580 |
| Georgia | $85,710 | $98,480 | 1,750 |
| North Dakota | $84,570 | $83,820 | 240 |
| Maryland | $84,190 | $93,100 | 1,760 |
| Nevada | $83,050 | $89,850 | 490 |
| Virginia | $82,230 | $90,500 | 2,850 |
| New York | $82,160 | $91,410 | 3,700 |
| West Virginia | $82,100 | $84,920 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $82,070 | $100,040 | 620 |
| Illinois | $81,590 | $92,260 | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $80,810 | $85,120 | 480 |
| Arizona | $80,600 | $92,740 | 1,970 |
| Montana | $80,260 | $85,240 | 570 |
| Hawaii | $79,510 | $80,720 | 670 |
| New Jersey | $79,210 | $86,690 | 3,150 |
| Iowa | $78,780 | $81,670 | 690 |
| Ohio | $78,540 | $80,820 | 2,460 |
| Kansas | $78,210 | $87,500 | 590 |
| Vermont | $77,460 | $83,460 | 490 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 | $84,680 | 1,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,110 | $82,270 | 3,020 |
| Michigan | $76,080 | $81,800 | 3,100 |
| Oklahoma | $75,910 | $78,430 | 520 |
| South Carolina | $74,910 | $83,920 | 490 |
| North Carolina | $74,130 | $80,230 | 4,150 |
| Wyoming | $74,050 | $76,430 | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $72,820 | $77,840 | 920 |
| Alabama | $72,490 | $74,510 | 870 |
| Kentucky | $71,040 | $71,160 | 1,000 |
| Idaho | $70,350 | $76,760 | 670 |
| Louisiana | $69,820 | $82,010 | 1,600 |
| South Dakota | $68,230 | $72,470 | 240 |
| Maine | $66,480 | $71,400 | 530 |
| Indiana | $64,700 | $78,210 | 1,290 |
| Delaware | $64,690 | $68,460 | 290 |
| Nebraska | $64,040 | $74,880 | 510 |
| Missouri | $61,050 | $66,360 | 1,380 |
| Florida | $60,830 | $69,830 | 5,950 |
| Mississippi | $57,780 | $67,460 | 390 |
| Arkansas | $57,220 | $72,360 | 270 |
Similar jobs
- Soil and Plant Scientist: $78,850
- Epidemiologist: $87,220
- Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist: $76,780
- Historian: $76,750
- Microbiologist: $87,990
- Forester: $76,400
- Food Scientist and Technologist: $88,720
- Urban and Regional Planner: $89,320
BLS occupation: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 19-2041). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $39.53; the average is $44.08.
Which state pays environmental scientists and specialists the most?
District of Columbia ($132,620 median), followed by California and Rhode Island.
What is the salary range for an environmental scientist and specialist?
The bottom 10% earn under $52,520 and the top 10% earn over $140,010 a year.
How much is $82,220 after taxes?
About $66,672 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $62,201 in California for a single filer in 2026.
Your business here? Sponsor this calculator from $19/week. See placements
Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.