Ecologist Salary in the United States

How much does an Ecologist make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ecologist in the United States is $73,284 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, an Ecologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,182
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $66,326 to $81,605
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,991
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $66,326 10% $59,991 90% $89,182 75% $81,605 $73,284 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Ecologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $81,605 $6,800 $1,569 $39
Average $73,284 $6,107 $1,409 $35
25th Percentile $66,326 $5,527 $1,275 $32
Check out Ecologist Job Openings in the United States
Field Ecologist - Midwest

Merjent - Columbus, OH

Field Ecologist Beekeeper (Cincinnati, Part-Time)

EmergencyMD - Cincinnati, OH

Midwest Field Ecologist — Lead Wetland & Habitat Surveys

Merjent - Columbus, OH

Wetland Ecologist & Delineation Specialist

Stantec - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Ecologist Salaries

An Ecologist'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 Ecologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Ecologist'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): $72,672
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $89,766
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,803
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,977
  • Expert (over 8 years): $154,771
Levels Salary
Ecologist... Level Ecologist$72,672
Informati... Level Ecologist$89,766
Informati... Level Ecologist$104,803
Informati... Level Ecologist$128,977
Informati... Level Ecologist$154,771
$72,672 0 yr
$89,766 < 2 yrs
$104,803 2-4 yrs
$128,977 5-8 yrs
$154,771 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Ecologists

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: $92,433
  • San Francisco: $91,524
  • Oakland: $89,494

What Skills Can Increase an Ecologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 3.63% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Internal Control (Mentioned in 3.74% Job Postings): Internal control, as defined by accounting and auditing, is a process for assuring of an organization's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and policies.
  • COBIT (Mentioned in 1.85% Job Postings): Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies is a framework that aims to help organizations that are looking to develop, implement, monitor, and improve IT governance and information management.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 3.63%
Internal Control 3.74%
COBIT 1.85%
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 an Ecologist's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Data Analytics: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
 $84,276
15%
Data Analytics
 $82,078
12%
Communicates Effectively
 $81,345
11%
Risk Assessment
 $81,345
11%
Planning
 $81,345
11%
Written Communication
 $80,612
10%
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How Education impacts an Ecologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ecologists enter the field with a Associate'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 an Ecologist with a Associate's Degree is between $66,178 and $70,454).

Ecologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ecologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.0%
High School 3.0%
Associates 4.0%
Bachelors 50.7%
Masters 42.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Ecologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ecologist'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$66,326
Average $73,284/year
$81,605
$5,527
Average $6,107/month
$6,800
$1,275
Average $1,409/week
$1,569
$32
Average $35/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $81,605 $6,800 $1,569 $39
Average $73,284 $6,107 $1,409 $35
25th Percentile $66,326 $5,527 $1,275 $32

Salaries of jobs related to Ecologist

Salary Trends for Ecologist

Salaries for an Ecologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $72,613 in 2023 to around $71,644 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Ecologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Ecologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$72,613
2024
$72,558
2025
$71,644
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $72,613
2024 $72,558
2025 $71,644
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Ecologist

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Ecologist

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Ecologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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