Environmental Science Careers — 7 Most Lucrative Jobs (2024)

FAQs

Environmental Science Careers — 7 Most Lucrative Jobs? ›

The average hourly rate for environmental scientists is $28.95 per hour. Location, education, and experience impacts how much an environmental scientist can expect to make. Environmental scientists make the most in California, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, and West Virginia.

The average hourly rate for environmental scientists is $28.95 per hour. Location, education, and experience impacts how much an environmental scientist can expect to make. Environmental scientists make the most in California, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, and West Virginia.

All of this important work can be lucrative, too. As an environmental engineer, you can earn a median salary of $96,820 a year according to the BLS.

For anyone wondering: “Is environmental science a good major?” It's not surprising that the answer is yes. Green jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Environmental Scientist Salary. $63,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $81,500 is the 75th percentile.

What are the 7 different fields that are involved in environmental science? ›

environmental science, interdisciplinary academic field that draws on ecology, geology, meteorology, biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics to study environmental problems and human impacts on the environment.

Environmental science brings together the fields of ecology, biology, zoology, oceanography, atmospheric science, soil science, geology, chemistry and more in an interdisciplinary study of how natural and man-made processes interact with one another and ultimately affect the various biomes of Earth.

These five fields are atmospheric sciences, ecology, environmental chemistry, geosciences, and social sciences.

Similar to most fields, environmental studies salary levels may vary depending on your job, with the highest-paid roles being those in leadership. As of May 2021, the median annual income for an environmental scientist is $73,230, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $129,070.

Environmental scientists are recruited by the mines, fertilizer plants, textile, and dying industries, food processing units, etc. After holding a degree in this field you will get a vast career options to choose from.

But most are environmental scientists and specialists, who earn about 2% less in total compensation than the market average for public sector scientists in California and 8% less than federal ones.

Job Outlook

Employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 7,800 openings for environmental scientists and specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

What is the highest paying job? ›

An undergraduate GPAs of 3.5 or higher. All students must submit the required application materials to be considered for admission to the programs.

Future career and job choices can be considered in choosing a class. If you're pursuing a STEM major in college, it's highly recommended to take AP Biology rather than AP Environmental Science. AP Biology will equip you with more knowledge about foundational biology and prepare you for college-level biology courses.

Environmental science courses help students understand and explore the interconnected nature of services the environment provides, such as agricultural production, water purification, timber, climate regulation, and spiritual and leisure activities, among many others.

Earning a bachelor's degree in either environmental science or environmental studies takes hard work but is also incredibly rewarding. You'll spend a lot of time in science and lab courses learning complex concepts and working with new materials and equipment.

Overall, environmental science students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.4 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees.

How much does a PhD Environmental Engineer in United States make? The national average salary for a PhD Environmental Engineer is $82,498 per year in United States.

The estimated total pay for a Environmental Science Officer at US Army is $77,864 per year.

Where can I study environmental science in USA? ›

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geography, and atmospheric science) to the study of the environment, and the ...

The four pillars of environmental stewardship, also known as the four pillars of environmental sustainability, are human, social, economic, and environmental.

In particular, PESTEL reflects the names of the six segments of the general environment: (1) political, (2) economic, (3) social, (4) technological, (5) environmental, and (6) legal.

What are the hierarchies of ecology? Levels of organization in ecology include the organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.

Physicist

By median salary, the highest-paid scientist is physicist. Physicists investigate the properties of matter, energy and time.

How much does a Climate Scientist make? As of Jun 3, 2023, the average annual pay for a Climate Scientist in the United States is $92,262 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $44.36 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,774/week or $7,688/month.

The National Science Foundation and STEM

The main categories of NSF STEM disciplines include: Agricultural Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geosciences, Life/Biological Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics/Astronomy.

Environmental science is one of the most interdisciplinary STEM fields, encompassing a suite of disciplines: physics, biology, geography, ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, rocks, water, ecosystems, biosphere, geology/physical geology, and atmospheric science.

How popular is environmental science major? ›

In 2020-2021, environmental science was the 91st most popular major nationwide with 9,274 degrees awarded. This represents a small change of only -0.7% from the prior year's total of 9,339 bioenvironmental sciences degrees awarded.

The dearth of paid jobs is due partly to a global lack of funding for conservation work, much of which is managed by nonprofits. But it's also a product of governments around the world cutting back on conservation and environmental protections even as the Earth heats up, species vanish, and ecosystems are hammered.

For anyone wondering: “Is environmental science a good major?” It's not surprising that the answer is yes. Green jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While some firms may hire employees after the completion of a biology, chemistry, or environment related bachelor's Degree, many larger firms will require a more advanced degree. The specific degree can vary from a Master's Degree, a Law Degree, a Masters of Business Administration, or a Doctorate.

What is the job growth for environmental consultants? ›

Job Outlook

Employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 7,800 openings for environmental scientists and specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

How Much Do Eco Consultant Jobs Pay per Year? $67,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers.

The median yearly total compensation reported at McKinsey for the Data Scientist role is $150,000.

Air Pollution Analysts and Air Quality Field Technicians will measure, sample, and analyze data gathered from polluted air. After theorizing or discovering the source of the pollutants, they work with other specialized scientists to develop future techniques for reducing or eradicating air pollution.

How much does an Environmental Advisor make in Texas? The average Environmental Advisor salary in Texas is $108,576 as of May 01, 2023, but the range typically falls between $99,336 and $119,508.