Biologist Environmental Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Biologist Environmental Scientist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biologist Environmental Scientist in the United States is $59,018 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Biologist Environmental Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,265
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,703 to $64,382
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,953

Key Factors That Influence Biologist Environmental Scientist Salaries

A Biologist Environmental Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Biologist Environmental Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biologist Environmental Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $58,624
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,749
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,561
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $122,530
  • Expert (over 8 years): $138,864
Levels Salary
Biologist... Level Biologist Environmental Scientist$58,624
Biologist... Level Biologist Environmental Scientist$67,749
Biologist... Level Biologist Environmental Scientist$84,561
Biologist... Level Biologist Environmental Scientist$122,530
Biologist... Level Biologist Environmental Scientist$138,864

How Do Biologist Environmental Scientist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Biologist Environmental Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,345.
  • California: $65,097.
  • Massachusetts: $64,229.

Top Paying Cities for Biologist Environmental Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $74,439
  • San Francisco: $73,624
  • Oakland: $72,073

What Skills Can Increase a Biologist Environmental Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.99% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microbiology (Mentioned in 2.67% Job Postings): Microbiology (from Greek μῑκρος, mīkros, "small"; βίος, bios, "life"; and -λογία, -logia) is the study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology. Eukaryotic microorganisms possess membrane-bound cell organelles and include fungi and protists, whereas prokaryotic organisms—all of which are microorganisms—are conventionally classified as lacking membrane-bound organelles and include Bacteria and Archaea. Microbiologists traditionally relied on culture, staining, and microscopy. However, less than 1% of the microorganisms present in common environments can be cultured in isolation using current means. Microbiologists often rely on molecular biology tools such as DNA sequence based identification, for example 16s rRNA gene sequence used for bacteria identification.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.99%
Microbiology 2.67%
SOP 2%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Biologist Environmental Scientist's salary.

  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Biochemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cell Biology $68,461
16%
Collaboration $67,281
14%
Biochemistry $66,100
12%

Biologist Environmental Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biologist Environmental Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Biologist Environmental Scientist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Biologist Environmental Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Biologist Environmental Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$88,527$43.050%

How Education impacts a Biologist Environmental Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Biologist Environmental Scientists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Biologist Environmental Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $55,345 and $58,563).

Biologist Environmental Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biologist Environmental Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 1.3%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 58.9%
Masters 24.1%
Doctorate 12.5%

Biologist Environmental Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Biologist Environmental Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$52,703
Average $59,018/year
$64,382
$4,392
Average $4,918/month
$5,365
$1,014
Average $1,135/week
$1,238
$25
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,382 $5,365 $1,238 $31
Average $59,018 $4,918 $1,135 $28
25th Percentile $52,703 $4,392 $1,014 $25

Most common benefits for Biologist Environmental Scientist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Biologist Environmental Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Biologist Environmental Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Biologist Environmental Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Biologist Environmental Scientist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Biologist Environmental Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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