Best cities for an environmental scientist
The best cities for environmental scientists are Sacramento, CA, Oakland, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for environmental scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for environmental scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an environmental scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for environmental scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for environmental scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an environmental scientist. While the absolute best city for environmental scientists is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for environmental scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for an environmental scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for environmental scientists in 2026
1. Sacramento, CA
Environmental scientist jobs in SacramentoTotal environmental scientist jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $84,976 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 5.30 2. Oakland, CA
Environmental scientist jobs in OaklandTotal environmental scientist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $85,321 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 3.53 3. Fresno, CA
Environmental scientist jobs in FresnoTotal environmental scientist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $82,143 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 4.39 4. Toledo, OH
Environmental scientist jobs in ToledoTotal environmental scientist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $62,333 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 3.45 5. Reno, NV
Environmental scientist jobs in RenoTotal environmental scientist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $66,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 2.45 6. Cincinnati, OH
Environmental scientist jobs in CincinnatiTotal environmental scientist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $60,200 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 3.27 7. Long Beach, CA
Environmental scientist jobs in Long BeachTotal environmental scientist jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $73,838 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 8.54 8. Portland, OR
Environmental scientist jobs in PortlandTotal environmental scientist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $69,351 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 2.07 9. Saint Paul, MN
Environmental scientist jobs in Saint PaulTotal environmental scientist jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $65,477 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 2.08 10. Cleveland, OH
Environmental scientist jobs in ClevelandTotal environmental scientist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $62,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 1.35
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Best cities for environmental scientists
- Sacramento, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Toledo, OH
- Reno, NV
- Cincinnati, OH
- Long Beach, CA
- Portland, OR
- Saint Paul, MN
- Cleveland, OH
- (36 environmental scientist jobs)
- (11 environmental scientist jobs)
- (8 environmental scientist jobs)
- (5 environmental scientist jobs)
- (6 environmental scientist jobs)
- (23 environmental scientist jobs)
- (17 environmental scientist jobs)
- (23 environmental scientist jobs)
- (13 environmental scientist jobs)
- (7 environmental scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an environmental scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $84,976 | $54,000 | 495,234 | 36 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $85,321 | $55,000 | 420,005 | 11 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $82,143 | $53,000 | 522,053 | 8 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $62,333 | $42,000 | 278,508 | 5 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $66,776 | $43,000 | 245,255 | 6 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $60,200 | $40,000 | 298,800 | 23 |
| 7 | Long Beach, CA | $73,838 | $49,000 | 470,130 | 17 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $69,351 | $45,000 | 639,863 | 23 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $65,477 | $43,000 | 302,398 | 13 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $62,627 | $42,000 | 385,809 | 7 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $61,802 | $41,000 | 860,090 | 17 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $75,390 | $49,000 | 704,352 | 29 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $58,180 | $39,000 | 263,016 | 16 |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $73,777 | $49,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $84,670 | $54,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $85,502 | $55,000 | 870,887 | 24 |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,003 | $38,000 | 559,277 | 13 |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $61,136 | $40,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 19 | Irvine, CA | $73,222 | $48,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $58,088 | $39,000 | 458,880 | 10 |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | $63,834 | $44,000 | 452,602 | 3 |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $56,195 | $43,000 | 298,192 | 8 |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $78,744 | $51,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,434 | $43,000 | 413,651 | 8 |
| 25 | Lubbock, TX | $49,814 | $33,000 | 252,506 | 4 |
| 26 | New Orleans, LA | $51,963 | $34,000 | 391,495 | 12 |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $74,170 | $51,000 | 681,170 | 21 |
| 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,183 | $39,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 29 | San Jose, CA | $84,610 | $54,000 | 1,025,350 | 7 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $69,144 | $49,000 | 673,184 | 13 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,712 | $49,000 | 3,976,322 | 18 |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $61,194 | $41,000 | 465,101 | 11 |
| 33 | Detroit, MI | $58,089 | $39,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $48,973 | $33,000 | 2,303,482 | 132 |
| 35 | Fremont, CA | $84,919 | $54,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $66,475 | $44,000 | 2,704,958 | 15 |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX | $49,171 | $33,000 | 1,492,510 | 15 |
| 38 | Riverside, CA | $73,607 | $48,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 39 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,584 | $40,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 40 | San Diego, CA | $70,376 | $47,000 | 1,406,630 | 14 |
| 41 | Baltimore, MD | $65,901 | $45,000 | 614,664 | 8 |
| 42 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,427 | $32,000 | 855,164 | 17 |
| 43 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,483 | $36,000 | 303,625 | 8 |
| 44 | Buffalo, NY | $63,351 | $43,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $61,498 | $40,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Tulsa, OK | $57,080 | $39,000 | 403,090 | 1 |
| 47 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $48,195 | $37,000 | 351,792 | 23 |
| 48 | Austin, TX | $49,138 | $33,000 | 947,890 | 24 |
| 49 | Denver, CO | $61,188 | $41,000 | 693,060 | 21 |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | $53,666 | $36,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for environmental scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. environmental scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $85,764 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,390 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,170 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $69,351 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $69,144 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $66,476 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $65,901 |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $65,477 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $65,298 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $64,553 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $61,802 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $61,188 |
| 13 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $58,937 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $58,180 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,003 |
| 16 | Helena, MT | $57,541 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,183 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $55,018 |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | $51,963 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $49,171 |
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Updated January 8, 2025