Environmental Scientist salary
From 761 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-2041: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Also filed as: Environmental Specialist
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 35% of Environmental Scientist filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: EY. 30 filings (4% of the total), median $149,379.
- Median up 32% since FY2020. From $66,560 in FY2020 to $88,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Environmental Scientist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 761 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Environmental Scientist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-2041, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health). The median base salary is $85,000, 31% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $70,000 and $106,000. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 35% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (85), and EY is the employer that files the most (30).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Environmental Scientist
EY30 filings · 4%$149,379
California Air Resources Board28 filings · 4%$110,694
Trinity Consultants28 filings · 4%$93,781
Battelle Memorial Institute13 filings · 2%$111,840
WSP11 filings · 1%$96,491
The Nature Conservancy11 filings · 1%$84,552
The International Council on Clean Transportation10 filings · 1%$127,700
University of California at Santa Barbara10 filings · 1%$81,468
Employers with the most Environmental Scientist filings. Bar: share of all Environmental Scientist filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 34% of filings
Mid-level · 35% of filings
Senior · 15% of filings
Expert · 16% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $66,200 | 229 |
| Level II · Qualified | $85,453 | 232 |
| Level III · Experienced | $98,500 | 100 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $125,000 | 105 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Environmental Scientist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 18 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $92,539 | 85 |
| San Francisco, CA | $96,533 | 50 |
| Washington, DC | $98,963 | 48 |
| Houston, TX | $72,478 | 44 |
| Boston, MA | $87,667 | 42 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $104,000 | 32 |
| Sacramento, CA | $108,294 | 30 |
| Atlanta, GA | $67,392 | 18 |
| San Jose, CA | $85,862 | 15 |
| Seattle, WA | $104,000 | 15 |
| Austin, TX | $75,523 | 13 |
| Chicago, IL | $82,500 | 13 |
| Dallas, TX | $86,750 | 12 |
| San Diego, CA | $79,040 | 11 |
| Durham, NC | $78,625 | 10 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $92,985 | 10 |
| Riverside, CA | $94,480 | 10 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $81,468 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Environmental Scientist does
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Typical tasks
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (19-2041.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health), the median annual wage was $82,220 in May 2025, with 89,250 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $85,000, 3% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,424 | $52,520 |
| 25th percentile | $70,000 | $64,490 |
| Median | $85,000 | $82,220 |
| 75th percentile | $106,000 | $107,970 |
| 90th percentile | $130,000 | $140,010 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,424 |
| 25th | $70,000 |
| 50th (median) | $85,000 |
| 75th | $106,000 |
| 90th | $130,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $66,560 | $57,694 | $85,188 | 246 |
| FY2021 | $70,000 | $59,519 | $90,000 | 295 |
| FY2022 | $75,000 | $60,307 | $95,000 | 356 |
| FY2023 | $76,543 | $65,000 | $95,170 | 380 |
| FY2024 | $80,000 | $67,000 | $100,000 | 400 |
| FY2025 | $81,100 | $67,990 | $105,000 | 485 |
| FY2026 | $88,000 | $74,481 | $107,535 | 276 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Environmental Scientist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Environmental Scientist jobs is $85,000 (761 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $70,000 and $106,000.
What does an entry-level Environmental Scientist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $66,200. Level I accounts for 34% of Environmental Scientist filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Environmental Scientists?
EY (30), California Air Resources Board (28) and Trinity Consultants (28) filed the most Environmental Scientist LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Environmental Scientists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($85,000) is 3% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($82,220, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.