How To Become A Research Environmental Scientist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a research environmental scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

A. Alonso Aguirre Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a research environmental scientist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $34.07 an hour? That's $70,860 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 3,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a research environmental scientist?

A. Alonso Aguirre Ph.D.

Department Chair & Professor, George Mason University

A career in environmental science, policy, and/or conservation is extremely rewarding and exciting. A degree in environmental science and policy will provide you with high qualifications to be sought-after by many agencies from local to federal, NGOs and businesses and private enterprises; you can make important contributions to solving complex environmental issues that challenge the integrity and sustainability of our planet. This is the time to get into a green career! The rapid growth of green/alternative economies will require more jobs exponentially. Organics, recycling, alternative energy, conservation of species and ecosystems, fair trade in green investments, sustainable agriculture and forests, and ecotourism, to name a few. Whatever your chosen career or life path will be-science, business, advocacy, public administration, journalism, parenting, community activism-you can play an important role in protecting Earth's biodiversity.

ScoreResearch Environmental ScientistUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $70,860

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 5.03%

Black or African American 3.09%

Hispanic or Latino 6.19%

Unknown 3.68%

White 81.24%

Gender

female 43.87%

male 56.13%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a research environmental scientist

Explore research environmental scientist education requirements

Most common research environmental scientist degrees

Bachelor's

80.6 %

Master's

10.1 %

Associate

5.4 %

Start to develop specific research environmental scientist skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Collection	20.45%
Data Analysis	15.28%
GIS	14.07%
Statistical Analysis	11.41%
Technical Reports	10.91%

Complete relevant research environmental scientist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research environmental scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a research environmental scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research environmental scientist resumes.

Research research environmental scientist duties and responsibilities

Work with the EHS team and are involved in hazardous waste management and over seeing the waste water treatment facility.
Interpret extraction, analysis, and confirmations of active constituents from natural sources by employing several techniques target to the data.
Automate a payroll edit reject operation.
Demonstrate the significance of regulations implement by EPA through creation of presentations and informational booklets to be distribute at regional meetings.

Apply for research environmental scientist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research environmental scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average research environmental scientist salary

The average research environmental scientist salary in the United States is $70,860 per year or $34 per hour. Research environmental scientist salaries range between $50,000 and $99,000 per year.

Average research environmental scientist salary

$70,860 Yearly

$34.07 hourly

What is a research environmental scientist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a research environmental scientist?

Key steps to become a research environmental scientist

Explore research environmental scientist education requirements

Most common research environmental scientist degrees

Start to develop specific research environmental scientist skills

Complete relevant research environmental scientist training and internships

Research research environmental scientist duties and responsibilities

Apply for research environmental scientist jobs

How did you land your first research environmental scientist job

Average research environmental scientist salary

How do research environmental scientists rate their job?