The average salary for a conservation scientist in the United States is around $73,010 per year.
Avg Salary
Conservation scientists earn an average yearly salary of $73,010.
Wages typically start from $47,550 and go up to $110,410.
10% above national average Updated in 2025
Conservation scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$53.08 per hour
$110,410 per year
Senior-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$44.02 per hour
$91,560 per year
Mid-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$35.10 per hour
$73,010 per year
Junior-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$27.74 per hour
$57,700 per year
Starting level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$22.86 per hour
$47,550 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Conservation scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,400 |
| Colorado | $84,820 |
| Maryland | $83,290 |
| Idaho | $81,330 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 |
| Oregon | $80,790 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 |
| California | $79,810 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
| Utah | $78,850 |
| Massachusetts | $78,740 |
| Washington | $78,450 |
| Virginia | $77,380 |
| North Dakota | $77,280 |
| Alabama | $77,000 |
| New York | $76,990 |
| New Mexico | $76,800 |
| Nebraska | $76,400 |
| South Dakota | $76,400 |
| Rhode Island | $76,130 |
| Maine | $75,900 |
| New Hampshire | $74,650 |
| Montana | $73,920 |
| Connecticut | $73,860 |
| Puerto Rico | $73,460 |
| Arkansas | $73,320 |
| Nevada | $73,030 |
| Kentucky | $71,980 |
| Minnesota | $71,280 |
| Oklahoma | $71,270 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 |
| Vermont | $70,130 |
| West Virginia | $69,910 |
| Illinois | $69,590 |
| Georgia | $69,240 |
| Iowa | $69,240 |
| Texas | $68,620 |
| Kansas | $67,200 |
| Arizona | $66,750 |
| Hawaii | $65,740 |
| Indiana | $64,570 |
| North Carolina | $64,460 |
| New Jersey | $64,020 |
| Delaware | $63,850 |
| Michigan | $63,500 |
| Ohio | $63,160 |
| Missouri | $63,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,480 |
| Mississippi | $59,510 |
| South Carolina | $52,310 |
| Florida | $51,130 |
How do conservation scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Conservation scientists earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than soil and plant scientists but more than certified crop advisors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $79K |
| Cartographer salary | $81K |
| Geodesist salary | $75K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $72K |
| Forester salary | $76K |
| Conservation scientist salary | $73K |
| Soil and water conservationist salary | $73K |
| Biomass plant technician salary | $62K |
| Biotechnician salary | $58K |
| Certified crop advisor salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)