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Senior environmental scientist salary
Average senior environmental scientist salary
$82,812
Understanding Senior Environmental Scientist Salaries
The role of a Senior Environmental Scientist is essential in ensuring that organizations adhere to environmental laws and regulations. On average, these professionals earn $82,812 annually, translating to about $40 per hour. Compensation varies significantly across states and industries.
Salary Variation by State
For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and demand for environmental expertise. On the other hand, states with lower living costs might offer reduced salaries.
Career Opportunities
Senior Environmental Scientists can find employment in various sectors, including government agencies, consulting firms, and non-profit organizations. They play a vital role in conducting research, implementing policies, and evaluating environmental impacts, making their expertise invaluable in today's economy.
Growth Potential
As environmental regulations become more stringent, the demand for skilled professionals will likely increase. Pursuing certifications and advanced degrees can enhance career prospects, leading to higher earning potential and leadership roles.
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Where can a Senior Environmental Scientist earn more?
Senior environmental scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average senior environmental scientist salary by state
The average senior environmental scientist salary in California, New Jersey, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior environmental scientist salary states are Vermont, Iowa, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior environmental scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $100,207 | $48.18 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $90,521 | $43.52 |
| 3 | Maryland | $88,453 | $42.53 |
| 4 | Nevada | $89,580 | $43.07 |
| 5 | Oregon | $90,588 | $43.55 |
| 6 | Virginia | $86,999 | $41.83 |
| 7 | Washington | $95,081 | $45.71 |
| 8 | Delaware | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| 9 | New York | $86,425 | $41.55 |
| 10 | California | $105,756 | $50.84 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $105,925 | $50.93 |
| 12 | Texas | $87,094 | $41.87 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $80,074 | $38.50 |
| 14 | Illinois | $82,975 | $39.89 |
| 15 | Ohio | $80,389 | $38.65 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $78,282 | $37.64 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $85,419 | $41.07 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $87,571 | $42.10 |
| 19 | Georgia | $83,583 | $40.18 |
| 20 | Michigan | $81,123 | $39.00 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $77,145 | $37.09 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $83,940 | $40.36 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $78,330 | $37.66 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $76,613 | $36.83 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $74,765 | $35.94 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $77,311 | $37.17 |
| 27 | Alaska | $71,249 | $34.25 |
| 28 | Kansas | $73,613 | $35.39 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $75,582 | $36.34 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $70,821 | $34.05 |
| 31 | Utah | $73,064 | $35.13 |
| 32 | Colorado | $76,251 | $36.66 |
| 33 | Idaho | $71,610 | $34.43 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $65,686 | $31.58 |
| 35 | Montana | $68,251 | $32.81 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $73,075 | $35.13 |
| 37 | Arizona | $73,021 | $35.11 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $70,575 | $33.93 |
| 39 | Maine | $57,047 | $27.43 |
| 40 | Missouri | $64,109 | $30.82 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $54,677 | $26.29 |
| 42 | Alabama | $69,337 | $33.34 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $54,643 | $26.27 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $59,129 | $28.43 |
| 45 | Vermont | $56,717 | $27.27 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $64,390 | $30.96 |
| 47 | Indiana | $61,995 | $29.81 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $63,698 | $30.62 |
| 49 | Iowa | $55,821 | $26.84 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $53,434 | $25.69 |
| 51 | Florida | $51,717 | $24.86 |
Highest paying cities for senior environmental scientists
The highest-paying cities for senior environmental scientists are San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $113,966 | $54.79 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $105,978 | $50.95 |
| 3 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $99,162 | $47.67 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $96,001 | $46.15 |
| 5 | Lake Oswego, OR | $89,650 | $43.10 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $88,439 | $42.52 |
| 7 | Irving, TX | $87,463 | $42.05 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $87,279 | $41.96 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $87,175 | $41.91 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $83,453 | $40.12 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $83,265 | $40.03 |
| 12 | Novi, MI | $81,306 | $39.09 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $80,851 | $38.87 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $78,433 | $37.71 |
| 15 | Littleton, CO | $76,427 | $36.74 |
| 16 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $76,025 | $36.55 |
| 17 | Scottsdale, AZ | $73,188 | $35.19 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $72,328 | $34.77 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,437 | $34.34 |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $71,321 | $34.29 |
Senior environmental scientist salary details
A senior environmental scientist's salary ranges from $60,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $113,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior environmental scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| Average | $82,812 | $6,901 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
Highest paying senior environmental scientist jobs
The highest paying types of senior environmental scientists are senior scientist, scientist, and field scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Field Scientist | $76,601 | $6,383 | $36.83 | 88,454 |
| Environmental Service Technician | $30,862 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 83,697 |
| Environmental Manager | $67,747 | $5,646 | $32.57 | 18,037 |
| Environmental Consultant | $74,913 | $6,243 | $36.02 | 21,723 |
| Environmental Engineer | $75,718 | $6,310 | $36.40 | 24,787 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior environmental scientists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Shannon Farrell Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Top companies hiring senior environmental scientists now:
Which companies pay senior environmental scientists the most?
Senior environmental scientist salaries at Technip USA Corporation and Valley Metro are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior environmental scientist salary at companies like Parsons and Merck are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technip USA Corporation | $106,617 | $51.26 |
| 2 | Valley Metro | $101,555 | $48.82 |
| 3 | Parsons | $100,314 | $48.23 |
| 4 | Merck | $100,184 | $48.17 |
| 5 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $100,031 | $48.09 |
| 6 | Southern California Edison | $96,185 | $46.24 |
| 7 | The Washington Post | $95,333 | $45.83 |
| 8 | Burns & McDonnell | $95,067 | $45.71 |
| 9 | The Dow Chemical Company | $93,762 | $45.08 |
| 10 | Encompass Health | $93,538 | $44.97 |
| 11 | Stantec | $92,592 | $44.52 |
| 12 | SoCalGas | $92,574 | $44.51 |
| 13 | HollyFrontier | $92,397 | $44.42 |
| 14 | HBK Engineering | $91,412 | $43.95 |
| 15 | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $91,066 | $43.78 |
| 16 | French & Parrello Associates | $91,063 | $43.78 |
| 17 | Woods Services | $90,944 | $43.72 |
| 18 | Freese and Nichols | $90,836 | $43.67 |
| 19 | Fuss & O'Neill | $90,433 | $43.48 |
| 20 | Sargent & Lundy | $90,319 | $43.42 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Environmental Scientist salary by industry
The average senior environmental scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average senior environmental scientist salary in the manufacturing industry is $87,346, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior environmental scientist salary in the finance industry is $86,685.
- Senior environmental scientists in the government industry earn an average salary of $71,677, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior environmental scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $87,346 | $41.99 |
| 2 | Construction | $86,685 | $41.68 |
| 3 | Professional | $84,938 | $40.84 |
| 4 | Utilities | $83,329 | $40.06 |
| 5 | Technology | $82,448 | $39.64 |
| 6 | Energy | $79,545 | $38.24 |
| 7 | Government | $71,677 | $34.46 |
High paying senior environmental scientist jobs
Senior environmental scientist salary trends
The average senior environmental scientist salary has risen by $11,659 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior environmental scientist earned $71,153 annually, but today, they earn $82,812 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for senior environmental scientists over the last decade.
Compare senior environmental scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior environmental scientist salary over time
Compare senior environmental scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior environmental scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,800 | $39.81 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $80,700 | $38.80 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $80,400 | $38.67 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $78,500 | $37.73 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | $77,900 | $37.46 | +2.1% |
Recently added senior environmental scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife | Senior Environmental Certification Specialist | Alabama | 06/30/2025 | $71,550 |
| Leidos | Senior Environmental Specialist (Pfas Expert) | Reston, VA | 06/25/2025 | $89,700 |
| Fedex | SR Environmental Specialist | Memphis, TN | 06/24/2025 | $67,947 |
| Dewberry | Senior Environmental Scientist | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $150,389 |
| Davey Resource Group | Senior Environmental Consultant/Wetland Scientist | ST. | Saint Paul, MN | 06/24/2025 | $75,000 |
| Stantec | Senior Environmental Scientist/Geologist | Montpelier, VT | 06/20/2025 | $70,900 |
| Stantec | Senior Environmental Scientist/Geologist | Concord, NH | 06/20/2025 | $70,900 |
| Stantec | Senior Environmental Scientist/Geologist | Boston, MA | 06/20/2025 | $70,900 |
| Stantec | Senior Environmental Scientist/Geologist | Hartford, CT | 06/20/2025 | $70,900 |
| Stantec | Senior Environmental Scientist/Geologist | Augusta, ME | 06/20/2025 | $70,900 |
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