Careers / Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$82,220
United States, 2025
Employment
89,250
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 19-2041.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical tasks
- Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$52,520
25th percentile
$64,490
75th percentile
$107,970
90th percentile
$140,010
Most important skills
- Writing4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Science4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Coordination3.6
- Learning Strategies3.3
- Mathematics3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 22 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
22
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Science | 4.0 | 4.5 | Not selected | 4.5 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Coordination | 3.6 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $132,620 | 1,270 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $129,110 | 300 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $127,210 | 1,320 | 2025 |
| Monroe, MI | $114,160 | 80 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | $110,260 | 170 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $109,710 | 40 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $109,710 | 190 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $108,430 | 3,520 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $108,160 | 2,710 | 2025 |
| Redding, CA | $106,510 | 130 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $106,510 | 340 | 2025 |
| CA | $106,510 | 12,490 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,510 | 60 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $106,100 | 1,140 | 2025 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $105,810 | 210 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $105,340 | 2,520 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $105,230 | 130 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,110 | 670 | 2025 |
| Springfield, MA | $103,930 | 120 | 2025 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,840 | 40 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.