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Ecologist salary
Average ecologist salary
$50,369
Understanding Ecologist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an ecologist stands at $50,369 per year. This figure reflects a variety of roles within the field, from research to environmental policy. Factors influencing salary include location, years of experience, and industry.
Salary by State
Ecologists in states like California and New York often earn higher salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in urban areas. In contrast, rural states may offer lower salaries but can provide unique opportunities in conservation and field research.
Industries with Competitive Salaries
Highest paying industries for ecologists include environmental consulting, government agencies, and academia. Positions in research and academia typically require advanced degrees and provide opportunities for higher pay. Additionally, specialization in areas such as marine biology or wildlife conservation can lead to lucrative positions within the field.
With the increasing focus on environmental sustainability, ecologists play a crucial role in shaping policies and practices that impact our planet. Pursuing a career as an ecologist not only offers financial rewards but also allows individuals to contribute positively to environmental health.
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Where can an Ecologist earn more?
Ecologist salary estimates from across the web
Average ecologist salary by state
The average ecologist salary in Alaska, Oregon, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average ecologist salary states are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for ecologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $65,960 | $31.71 |
| 2 | Maine | $60,422 | $29.05 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $59,267 | $28.49 |
| 4 | Maryland | $62,966 | $30.27 |
| 5 | Oregon | $63,748 | $30.65 |
| 6 | Ohio | $59,620 | $28.66 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $57,385 | $27.59 |
| 8 | California | $61,936 | $29.78 |
| 9 | Washington | $60,568 | $29.12 |
| 10 | Missouri | $57,061 | $27.43 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $57,962 | $27.87 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $55,565 | $26.71 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $54,537 | $26.22 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $58,388 | $28.07 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $58,305 | $28.03 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| 17 | Utah | $57,196 | $27.50 |
| 18 | Vermont | $57,724 | $27.75 |
| 19 | Montana | $54,273 | $26.09 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $57,238 | $27.52 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $52,460 | $25.22 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $53,900 | $25.91 |
| 23 | Idaho | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 24 | Virginia | $54,587 | $26.24 |
| 25 | Colorado | $53,835 | $25.88 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $52,396 | $25.19 |
| 27 | Indiana | $51,017 | $24.53 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $57,857 | $27.82 |
| 29 | New York | $58,187 | $27.97 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $50,134 | $24.10 |
| 31 | Nevada | $49,814 | $23.95 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $51,363 | $24.69 |
| 33 | Delaware | $54,460 | $26.18 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $52,405 | $25.19 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| 36 | Texas | $48,865 | $23.49 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $47,235 | $22.71 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $34,142 | $16.41 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $47,858 | $23.01 |
| 40 | Illinois | $47,697 | $22.93 |
| 41 | Arizona | $45,987 | $22.11 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $44,718 | $21.50 |
| 43 | Iowa | $45,828 | $22.03 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $31,944 | $15.36 |
| 45 | Alabama | $43,605 | $20.96 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $35,842 | $17.23 |
| 47 | Kansas | $44,582 | $21.43 |
| 48 | Michigan | $42,014 | $20.20 |
| 49 | Georgia | $35,117 | $16.88 |
| 50 | Florida | $30,999 | $14.90 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $35,434 | $17.04 |
Highest paying cities for ecologists
The highest-paying cities for ecologists are Fresno, CA, Silver Spring, MD, and Olympia, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $64,595 | $31.06 |
| 2 | Silver Spring, MD | $62,532 | $30.06 |
| 3 | Olympia, WA | $61,383 | $29.51 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $59,207 | $28.46 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $57,138 | $27.47 |
| 6 | Arvada, CO | $53,857 | $25.89 |
| 7 | Henderson, KY | $53,566 | $25.75 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $52,456 | $25.22 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, LA | $51,463 | $24.74 |
| 10 | La Crosse, WI | $51,423 | $24.72 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $50,261 | $24.16 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $49,095 | $23.60 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $48,988 | $23.55 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $47,962 | $23.06 |
| 15 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $43,436 | $20.88 |
| 16 | Ann Arbor, MI | $41,648 | $20.02 |
| 17 | Chattanooga, TN | $35,652 | $17.14 |
| 18 | Little Rock, AR | $35,303 | $16.97 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $35,166 | $16.91 |
| 20 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $34,145 | $16.42 |
Ecologist salary details
An ecologist's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an ecologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying ecologist jobs
The highest paying types of ecologists are forest service wildlife program leader, marine scientist, and wildlife division manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish And Wildlife Biologist | $52,402 | $4,367 | $25.19 | 7,349 |
| Fisheries Biologist | $47,758 | $3,980 | $22.96 | 3,648 |
| Wildlife Biologist | $51,084 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 5,376 |
| Marine Biologist | $54,008 | $4,501 | $25.97 | 17,273 |
| Biologist | $65,158 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 5,741 |
Top companies hiring ecologists now:
Which companies pay ecologists the most?
Ecologist salaries at Volkert and Smithsonian Institution are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average ecologist salary at companies like AECOM and Center for Coastal Studies are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkert | $77,738 | $37.37 |
| 2 | Smithsonian Institution | $72,905 | $35.05 |
| 3 | AECOM | $70,189 | $33.74 |
| 4 | Center for Coastal Studies | $69,664 | $33.49 |
| 5 | Civil & Environmental Consultants | $68,266 | $32.82 |
| 6 | Battelle | $66,985 | $32.20 |
| 7 | US Meat Animal Research Center | $66,273 | $31.86 |
| 8 | Stantec | $65,500 | $31.49 |
| 9 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $65,488 | $31.48 |
| 10 | Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | $62,419 | $30.01 |
| 11 | National Park Foundation | $61,214 | $29.43 |
| 12 | Bureau of Land Management | $60,572 | $29.12 |
| 13 | Resource Environmental Solutions | $58,703 | $28.22 |
| 14 | Colliers Engineering & Design | $58,538 | $28.14 |
| 15 | Chemtex | $58,494 | $28.12 |
| 16 | The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i | $57,911 | $27.84 |
| 17 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $56,484 | $27.16 |
| 18 | Shannon & Wilson | $56,178 | $27.01 |
| 19 | U.s.government | $55,792 | $26.82 |
| 20 | Snc-lavalin Project Services, Inc. | $55,034 | $26.46 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Ecologist salary by industry
The average ecologist salary varies across industries:
- The average ecologist salary in the technology industry is $69,751, the highest of any industry.
- The average ecologist salary in the finance industry is $64,215.
- Ecologists in the government industry earn an average salary of $53,344, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for ecologists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $69,751 | $33.53 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $64,215 | $30.87 |
| 3 | Professional | $59,806 | $28.75 |
| 4 | Construction | $59,446 | $28.58 |
| 5 | Education | $56,638 | $27.23 |
| 6 | Government | $53,344 | $25.65 |
High paying ecologist jobs
Ecologist salary trends
The average ecologist salary has risen by $6,779 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average ecologist earned $43,590 annually, but today, they earn $50,369 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for ecologists over the last decade.
Compare ecologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average ecologist salary over time
Compare ecologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Ecologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,400 | $24.22 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $48,000 | $23.09 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | $48,100 | $23.15 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $47,300 | $22.73 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $45,900 | $22.09 | +1.4% |
Recently added ecologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barr Systems | Ecologist-Senior Level (Hybrid) | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| Roger Williams University | Staff Ecologist | Providence, RI | 06/29/2025 | $62,498 |
| WRA | Wetland Ecologist | San Francisco, CA | 06/27/2025 | $85,000 |
| County of Santa Clara (Ca | Vector Control Ecologist | Santa Clara, CA | 06/25/2025 | $108,774 |
| Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District | Assistant Vector Ecologist/Vector Ecologist | Downey, CA | 06/15/2025 | $87,216 |
| Arcadis Global | Ecologist | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $60,000 |
| Battelle | Neon-Field Ecologist-Instrumentation (Early Career) | Front Royal, VA | 06/07/2025 | $47,813 |
| Nantucket Conservation Foundation | Coastal Wetlands Research Ecologist | Nantucket, MA | 06/06/2025 | $80,000 |
| Roger Williams University | Staff Ecologist | Providence, RI | 05/28/2025 | $62,498 |
| College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Research Foundation-Ecologist (Research Scientist)-College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Albany, NY | 05/28/2025 | $60,000 |
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