How to Become an Environmental Scientist
Conduct research and advise on protecting the environment and human health. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $82,220 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$82,220/yr
Middle half
$64,490 to $107,970
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
8,500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Environmental Assessment
- Data Analysis
- GIS
- Fieldwork
- Report Writing
Helpful certifications
- LEED AP
- Certified Environmental Professional (CEP)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
42/100
Work-life balance
68/100
Stress level
32/100
Satisfaction
75/100
Related careers
- Geologist$101,920 median
- Farmer / Agricultural Manager$89,900 median
- Soil / Plant Scientist$78,850 median
- Forester$76,400 median
- Forest / Conservation Technician$54,560 median
- Agricultural Technician$49,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Environmental Scientist make?
The median pay for an Environmental Scientist is $82,220 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $64,490 and $107,970 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Environmental Scientist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Ecology, Atmospheric Science, Wildlife and Fisheries, Horticulture and Plant Science, and Forestry.
Is Environmental Scientist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 8,500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Environmental Scientist use most?
Common skills for this role are Environmental Assessment, Data Analysis, GIS, Fieldwork, and Report Writing.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).