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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

19-2041 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023), “Conservation Scientists” (19-1031), “Forest and Conservation Technicians” (19-4071), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Fish and Game Wardens” (33-3031), and “Forest and Conservation Workers” (45-4011).


National estimates for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Industry profile for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Geographic profile for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

National estimates for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
76,890 1.5 % $ 39.06 $ 81,240 0.9 %

Percentile wage estimates for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 22.21 $ 27.98 $ 36.79 $ 47.64 $ 62.05
Annual Wage (2) $ 46,200 $ 58,200 $ 76,530 $ 99,090 $ 129,070


Industry profile for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 20,300 0.92 $ 35.06 $ 72,920
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 16,630 1.07 $ 40.54 $ 84,320
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 11,120 0.21 $ 35.87 $ 74,610
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 10,090 0.67 $ 38.49 $ 80,060
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 4,990 0.24 $ 50.44 $ 104,910

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 16,630 1.07 $ 40.54 $ 84,320
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 20,300 0.92 $ 35.06 $ 72,920
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 10,090 0.67 $ 38.49 $ 80,060
Social Advocacy Organizations 1,350 0.60 $ 34.09 $ 70,910
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services 780 0.49 $ 40.89 $ 85,040

Top paying industries for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 40 0.01 $ 65.67 $ 136,590
Natural Gas Distribution 180 0.16 $ 56.32 $ 117,150
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,350 0.05 $ 55.48 $ 115,390
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 170 0.17 $ 55.30 $ 115,030
Oil and Gas Extraction 120 0.11 $ 54.36 $ 113,070


Geographic profile for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of environmental scientists and specialists, including health by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 12,500 0.76 1.39 $ 45.36 $ 94,350
Florida 5,250 0.61 1.12 $ 29.78 $ 61,940
Texas 4,370 0.36 0.65 $ 37.71 $ 78,430
New York 3,840 0.44 0.81 $ 43.28 $ 90,010
North Carolina 3,620 0.82 1.50 $ 34.15 $ 71,030


Map of location quotient of environmental scientists and specialists, including health by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 670 2.28 4.18 $ 41.45 $ 86,210
New Mexico 1,470 1.90 3.48 $ 38.28 $ 79,620
District of Columbia 1,190 1.80 3.29 $ 59.57 $ 123,900
Wyoming 410 1.58 2.89 $ 33.47 $ 69,610
Vermont 360 1.25 2.29 $ 34.76 $ 72,300


Map of annual mean wages of environmental scientists and specialists, including health by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 1,190 1.80 3.29 $ 59.57 $ 123,900
New Jersey 2,860 0.74 1.36 $ 46.18 $ 96,060
Massachusetts 1,750 0.52 0.95 $ 46.04 $ 95,770
California 12,500 0.76 1.39 $ 45.36 $ 94,350
Illinois 1,410 0.25 0.46 $ 43.76 $ 91,010



Map of employment of environmental scientists and specialists, including health by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 3,850 0.44 0.81 $ 48.53 $ 100,940
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 3,020 3.07 5.62 $ 48.49 $ 100,870
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,650 0.90 1.65 $ 51.70 $ 107,530
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,410 0.42 0.77 $ 45.05 $ 93,710
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,890 0.84 1.54 $ 51.78 $ 107,710
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,830 0.95 1.75 $ 44.85 $ 93,280
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,560 0.54 0.99 $ 37.85 $ 78,730
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,400 0.54 0.99 $ 47.32 $ 98,430
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,280 0.70 1.29 $ 41.10 $ 85,490
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,280 0.87 1.60 $ 44.58 $ 92,720


Map of location quotient of environmental scientists and specialists, including health by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Santa Fe, NM 300 5.34 9.79 $ 30.37 $ 63,180
Boulder, CO 820 4.51 8.27 $ 41.67 $ 86,680
Cheyenne, WY 180 4.03 7.38 $ 32.55 $ 67,710
Trenton, NJ 830 3.64 6.68 $ 41.60 $ 86,520
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 400 3.58 6.57 $ 37.09 $ 77,150
Carson City, NV 100 3.49 6.40 $ 32.38 $ 67,340
Tallahassee, FL 550 3.23 5.91 $ 24.08 $ 50,090
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 3,020 3.07 5.62 $ 48.49 $ 100,870
Fairbanks, AK 100 3.03 5.55 $ 40.23 $ 83,680
Anchorage, AK 410 2.52 4.62 $ 42.16 $ 87,690