Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Career, Salary and Skills
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $82,220 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 89,250. Wage data is published for 313 locations.
Occupation description
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
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$82,220
Hourly median
$39.53
Employment
89,250
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Science | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Coordination | 3.62 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
Technology
- ADMS pollution modeling software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Illustrator
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Bentley MicroStation
- C++
- CAP88-PC
- CERC EMIT
- Chemical management tracking software
- Chemicals and Irrigation CANDI
- Compass software
- Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- Database software
- DataPipe EHS
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in CAMedian $106,510 · Employment 12,490
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in FLMedian $60,830 · Employment 5,950
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in TXMedian $92,000 · Employment 5,630
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in WAMedian $98,300 · Employment 4,470
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in NCMedian $74,130 · Employment 4,150
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in NYMedian $82,160 · Employment 3,700
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in Sacramento, CAMedian $108,430 · Employment 3,520
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in New York, NYMedian $85,510 · Employment 3,350
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in NJMedian $79,210 · Employment 3,150
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in MIMedian $76,080 · Employment 3,100
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in PAMedian $76,110 · Employment 3,020
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in MAMedian $100,640 · Employment 2,930
Related careers
- ForestersNational median $76,400
- Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansNational median $61,560
- Range ManagersNational median $73,010
- Soil and Plant ScientistsNational median $78,850
- Chief Sustainability OfficersNational median $213,990
- Environmental Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $94,980
- Water Resource SpecialistsNational median $167,220
- Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsNational median $90,150
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.