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Field scientist salary
Average field scientist salary
$76,601
Field Scientist Salary Overview
The average annual salary for a Field Scientist is approximately $76,601, translating to about $37 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry focus. For instance, Field Scientists in states like California and New York often command higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for specialized skills.
Salary by State
When examining salary data, states with the highest-paying opportunities include:
- California
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Washington
- Texas
Field Scientists in these regions benefit from competitive pay and diverse job opportunities. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or specialized certifications may see even greater salary potential. For individuals considering this career path, understanding the salary landscape can inform decisions about education and job applications, ultimately enhancing career prospects.
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Where can a Field Scientist earn more?
Field scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average field scientist salary by state
The average field scientist salary in California, Massachusetts, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average field scientist salary states are North Dakota, Mississippi, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for field scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $87,873 | $42.25 |
| 2 | Nevada | $88,979 | $42.78 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $84,325 | $40.54 |
| 4 | California | $100,326 | $48.23 |
| 5 | New York | $83,288 | $40.04 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $82,098 | $39.47 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $97,321 | $46.79 |
| 8 | Delaware | $78,532 | $37.76 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $105,902 | $50.91 |
| 10 | Oregon | $79,142 | $38.05 |
| 11 | Maryland | $79,464 | $38.20 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $76,403 | $36.73 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| 14 | Idaho | $74,029 | $35.59 |
| 15 | Colorado | $77,146 | $37.09 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $74,681 | $35.90 |
| 17 | Ohio | $73,898 | $35.53 |
| 18 | Washington | $80,722 | $38.81 |
| 19 | Montana | $69,370 | $33.35 |
| 20 | Illinois | $73,797 | $35.48 |
| 21 | Texas | $71,149 | $34.21 |
| 22 | Indiana | $70,972 | $34.12 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $70,783 | $34.03 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $67,880 | $32.63 |
| 25 | Utah | $69,281 | $33.31 |
| 26 | Michigan | $71,967 | $34.60 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $66,259 | $31.86 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $65,868 | $31.67 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $67,434 | $32.42 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $67,809 | $32.60 |
| 31 | Kansas | $68,300 | $32.84 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $58,957 | $28.34 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $64,735 | $31.12 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $56,092 | $26.97 |
| 35 | Arizona | $66,075 | $31.77 |
| 36 | Maine | $56,508 | $27.17 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $56,982 | $27.40 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $60,435 | $29.06 |
| 39 | Georgia | $65,166 | $31.33 |
| 40 | Alaska | $59,887 | $28.79 |
| 41 | Missouri | $58,719 | $28.23 |
| 42 | Vermont | $56,533 | $27.18 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $62,367 | $29.98 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $57,081 | $27.44 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $56,347 | $27.09 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $51,769 | $24.89 |
| 47 | Iowa | $55,037 | $26.46 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $56,427 | $27.13 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $55,326 | $26.60 |
| 50 | Florida | $44,282 | $21.29 |
| 51 | Alabama | $45,621 | $21.93 |
Highest paying cities for field scientists
The highest-paying cities for field scientists are San Francisco, CA, Danvers, MA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $108,843 | $52.33 |
| 2 | Danvers, MA | $95,269 | $45.80 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $83,931 | $40.35 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $81,504 | $39.18 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $79,535 | $38.24 |
| 6 | Wheat Ridge, CO | $77,113 | $37.07 |
| 7 | North Brunswick, NJ | $76,982 | $37.01 |
| 8 | Lubbock, TX | $75,437 | $36.27 |
| 9 | Palatine, IL | $73,790 | $35.48 |
| 10 | Holland, MI | $71,291 | $34.27 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,084 | $34.17 |
| 12 | Great Falls, MT | $68,948 | $33.15 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $67,556 | $32.48 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $67,284 | $32.35 |
| 15 | Lawrenceville, GA | $65,953 | $31.71 |
| 16 | Carlsbad, NM | $65,354 | $31.42 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $64,827 | $31.17 |
| 18 | Laramie, WY | $58,714 | $28.23 |
| 19 | Ridgeland, MS | $55,226 | $26.55 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $45,639 | $21.94 |
Field scientist salary details
A field scientist's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $111,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a field scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $111,000 | $9,250 | $53 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| Average | $76,601 | $6,383 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Highest paying field scientist jobs
The highest paying types of field scientists are environmental scientist lead, scientist, and staff scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Service Technician | $30,862 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 83,697 |
| Environmental Technician | $39,690 | $3,308 | $19.08 | 43,079 |
| Environmental Analyst | $60,795 | $5,066 | $29.23 | 17,018 |
| Environmental Geologist | $64,927 | $5,411 | $31.21 | 16,395 |
| Environmental Scientist/Geologist | $63,344 | $5,279 | $30.45 | 55,899 |
| Staff Environmental Scientist | $62,433 | $5,203 | $30.02 | 124,536 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for field scientists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
A. Alonso Aguirre Ph.D.
Department Chair & Professor, George Mason University
Top companies hiring field scientists now:
Which companies pay field scientists the most?
Field scientist salaries at Syngenta and NRC are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average field scientist salary at companies like Valent U.S.A and Corteva are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syngenta | $83,157 | $39.98 |
| 2 | NRC | $81,512 | $39.19 |
| 3 | Valent U.S.A | $80,585 | $38.74 |
| 4 | Corteva | $80,154 | $38.54 |
| 5 | SGS | $78,728 | $37.85 |
| 6 | Novozymes | $78,711 | $37.84 |
| 7 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $78,381 | $37.68 |
| 8 | ICF | $76,495 | $36.78 |
| 9 | Clean Air Systems | $76,158 | $36.61 |
| 10 | Valent BioSciences | $75,199 | $36.15 |
| 11 | Apex Companies | $74,478 | $35.81 |
| 12 | ERM | $73,343 | $35.26 |
| 13 | RGA Environmental, A Terracon Company | $65,567 | $31.52 |
| 14 | State Bar of Michigan | $52,316 | $25.15 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Field scientist salary trends
The average field scientist salary has risen by $10,784 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average field scientist earned $65,817 annually, but today, they earn $76,601 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for field scientists over the last decade.
Compare field scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average field scientist salary over time
Compare field scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Field scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $76,600 | $36.83 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $74,600 | $35.89 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $74,400 | $35.77 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $72,600 | $34.90 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $72,100 | $34.66 | +2.1% |
Recently added field scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rincon Consultants | Environmental Field Scientist | Los Angeles, CA | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Invitrogen Holdings | Field Scientist, Lsms Biopharma (West Coast Territory) | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/27/2025 | $75,800 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Director-US Field Heor Scientist | Las Vegas, NV | 06/25/2025 | $211,880 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Director-US Field Heor Scientist | Seattle, WA | 06/25/2025 | $211,880 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Director-US Field Heor Scientist | Portland, OR | 06/25/2025 | $211,880 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Director-US Field Heor Scientist | San Francisco, CA | 06/25/2025 | $211,880 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Director-US Field Heor Scientist | Boise, ID | 06/25/2025 | $211,880 |
| Serco Group | Air Field Scientist (Npap/Pep) Opportunity To Travel Pacific Northwest | Ione, WA | 06/25/2025 | $53,036 |
| Serco | Air Field Scientist (Npap/Pep) Opportunity To Travel Pacific Northwest | Ione, WA | 06/25/2025 | $53,036 |
| Terracon | Field Scientist | Plymouth, MN | 06/17/2025 | $55,900 |
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