Project Environmental Scientist Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Project Environmental Scientist in the United States is $58,287 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $66,406
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,598 to $62,537
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,420

Key Factors That Influence Project Environmental Scientist Salaries

A Project 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Project Environmental Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Project 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): $56,312
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $56,707
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $58,129
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $60,343
  • Expert (over 8 years): $61,207
Levels Salary
Entry Level Project Environmental Scientist$56,312
Intermediate Level Project Environmental Scientist$56,707
Senior Level Project Environmental Scientist$58,129
Specialist Level Project Environmental Scientist$60,343
Expert Level Project Environmental Scientist$61,207

How Do Project 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 Project Environmental Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $64,535.
  • California: $64,290.
  • Massachusetts: $63,433.

Top Paying Cities for Project 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: $73,517
  • San Francisco: $72,712
  • Oakland: $71,180

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 4.18% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Good Manufacturing Practice (Mentioned in 4.27% Job Postings): Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.
  • Material Handling (Mentioned in 2.44% Job Postings): Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.18%
Good Manufacturing Practice 4.27%
Material Handling 2.44%

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 Project Environmental Scientist's salary.

  • Good Manufacturing Practice: Can increase your salary by up to 56%.
  • Food Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Good Manufacturing Practice $90,927
56%
Food Safety $71,693
23%
SOP $64,115
10%

Project Environmental Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Project Environmental Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Durable and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Project Environmental Scientist positions in Business Services or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Project Environmental Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Project Environmental Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable$64,115$31.010%
Chemicals$61,201$29.05%

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

Understanding how a Project 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
$52,598
Average $58,287/year
$62,537
$4,383
Average $4,857/month
$5,211
$1,012
Average $1,121/week
$1,203
$25
Average $28/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,537 $5,211 $1,203 $30
Average $58,287 $4,857 $1,121 $28
25th Percentile $52,598 $4,383 $1,012 $25

Most common benefits for Project Environmental Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Project Environmental Scientist

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

Find Your Next Project Environmental Scientist Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Project Environmental Scientist

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

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Project Environmental Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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.)

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

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst