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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Conservation Scientist actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $74,489 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $53,120 to $135,680. The $52,142 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Science within the broader Science & Research industry, Conservation Scientists typically hold Bachelor's in env sci. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is field. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$82,560 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Conservation Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $135,680 — $82,560 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,120). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The salary distribution for Conservation Scientists reveals a $52,142 spread from entry to senior. At $74,489, the median sits $5,878 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $53,632 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $105,774 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $126,720 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $53,547 (average of the bottom 3). That $73,173 delta is real money — $6,098/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Conservation Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $135,680 — $82,560 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,120). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Conservation Scientist is $53,632, while senior-level (P90) earners average $105,774. That $52,142 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Conservation Scientists average $53,632 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $53,632 | $74,489 | $105,774 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £28,943 | £40,198 | £57,081 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$41,195 | CA$57,215 | CA$81,245 |
| Australia | 13 | A$47,267 | A$65,649 | A$93,221 |
| Sweden | 24 | 294,535 kr | 409,077 kr | 580,889 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $64,731 | $89,904 | $127,664 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $62,554 | $86,880 | $123,370 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $62,208 | $86,400 | $122,688 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $57,600 | $80,000 | $113,600 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $56,909 | $79,040 | $112,237 |
| Washington | 8 | $55,814 | $77,520 | $110,078 |
| New York | 5 | $52,531 | $72,960 | $103,603 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $52,531 | $72,960 | $103,603 |
| Florida | 22 | $52,133 | $72,407 | $102,818 |
| Colorado | 11 | $51,233 | $71,156 | $101,042 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $51,149 | $71,040 | $100,877 |
| Nevada | 5 | $51,057 | $70,912 | $100,695 |
| Arizona | 12 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
| Oregon | 5 | $50,688 | $70,400 | $99,968 |
| Idaho | 3 | $50,534 | $70,187 | $99,665 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $50,135 | $69,632 | $98,877 |
| Utah | 4 | $49,997 | $69,440 | $98,605 |
| Virginia | 7 | $49,174 | $68,297 | $96,982 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $48,538 | $67,413 | $95,727 |
| Alaska | 1 | $48,384 | $67,200 | $95,424 |
| Illinois | 5 | $47,831 | $66,432 | $94,334 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $46,643 | $64,782 | $91,991 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $46,080 | $64,000 | $90,880 |
| Montana | 1 | $46,080 | $64,000 | $90,880 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $45,926 | $63,787 | $90,577 |
| Texas | 40 | $45,700 | $63,472 | $90,130 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $45,620 | $63,360 | $89,972 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $45,389 | $63,040 | $89,517 |
| Georgia | 6 | $45,235 | $62,827 | $89,214 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $45,158 | $62,720 | $89,062 |
| Kansas | 4 | $44,928 | $62,400 | $88,608 |
| Michigan | 6 | $44,774 | $62,187 | $88,305 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $44,237 | $61,440 | $87,245 |
| Maryland | 1 | $44,237 | $61,440 | $87,245 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $43,776 | $60,800 | $86,336 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $43,776 | $60,800 | $86,336 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $42,624 | $59,200 | $84,064 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $42,394 | $58,880 | $83,610 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $41,818 | $58,080 | $82,474 |
| Missouri | 4 | $41,818 | $58,080 | $82,474 |
| Alabama | 5 | $41,656 | $57,856 | $82,155 |
| Indiana | 3 | $41,011 | $56,960 | $80,883 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $41,011 | $56,960 | $80,883 |
| Iowa | 2 | $40,550 | $56,320 | $79,974 |
| Ohio | 6 | $40,474 | $56,213 | $79,823 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $38,707 | $53,760 | $76,339 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Conservation Scientist median of $89,904 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($86,880) and Hawaii ($86,400). But raw salary is only half the story. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $53,760 and $56,320. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($135,680 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $64,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $135,680 | 212 | $64,000 | $81,649 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $126,720 | 198 | $64,000 | $76,717 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $117,760 | 184 | $64,000 | $71,784 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $115,840 | 181 | $64,000 | $70,727 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $113,920 | 178 | $64,000 | $69,670 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $113,280 | 177 | $64,000 | $69,318 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $113,280 | 177 | $64,000 | $69,318 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $110,720 | 173 | $64,000 | $67,909 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $110,720 | 173 | $64,000 | $67,909 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $108,160 | 169 | $64,000 | $66,500 |
The $52,142 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Conservation Scientist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Conservation Scientists is $74,489 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $53,632, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $105,774.
The highest-paying city for Conservation Scientists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $135,680. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($135,680), Santa Clara ($126,720), Irvine ($117,760). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Conservation Scientist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $53,120. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Conservation Scientists (10th percentile) average $53,632 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $97,690. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Conservation Scientists average $105,774 nationally — $52,142 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Conservation Scientists can earn up to $192,666.
The top-paying states for Conservation Scientists are California ($89,904 median), Massachusetts ($86,880 median), Hawaii ($86,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Conservation Scientist involves Bachelor's in env sci. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically field.
With a national median of $74,489 and representation across 288 metro areas, Conservation Scientist offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $52,142 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.