Conservation Scientists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $184,350 or more. The middle half of conservation scientists in Washington earn between $75,040 and $132,620.
- $61K10th
- $75K25th
- $99KMedian
- $133K75th
- $184K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $108,770 | $9,064 | $52.29 |
| Median | $99,360 | $8,280 | $47.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,040 | $6,253 | $36.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,620 | $11,052 | $63.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Conservation Scientists pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Conservation scientists in Washington earn 10% more than the Washington, D.C. average ($99,050) and 41% more than the U.S. average ($77,130). At the median the gap is +36% against the U.S. median of $73,010.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $108,770 | $99,360 | $61,460 | $184,350 | 490 |
| Washington, D.C. | $99,050 | $99,400 | $66,130 | $142,430 | 110 |
| United States | $77,130 | $73,010 | $47,550 | $110,410 | 25,950 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Conservation Scientists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $108,770, a single filer in Washington takes home about $79,073 a year, or $6,589 a month and $3,041 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $81,257 | $6,771 |
| Working in MD | $80,381 | $6,698 |
| Working in VA | $79,910 | $6,659 |
| Working in DC | $79,073 | $6,589 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for conservation scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $108,770 buys what about $99,895 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Conservation Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$86,680
- Richmond, VA$77,390
- Lancaster, PA$58,940
- Reading, PA$61,100
- Philadelphia, PA$61,450
- Virginia Beach, VA$70,680
Highest-paying cities for conservation scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,820).
- San Jose, CA$118,820
- Washington, DC$108,770
- Springfield, IL$105,360
- Amherst, MA$99,360
- San Francisco, CA$99,130
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Conservation Scientists salary in Washington: questions
How much do conservation scientists make an hour in Washington?
$52.29 an hour on average, and $47.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level conservation scientists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the conservation scientists take-home pay in Washington?
About $79,073 a year ($6,589 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $108,770.
Do conservation scientists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,130).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1031; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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