Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

19-2041 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. 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. Excludes "Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists" (19-1023), "Conservation Scientists" (19-1031), "Forest and Conservation Technicians" (19-4093), "Fish and Game Wardens" (33-3031), and "Forest and Conservation Workers" (45-4011).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
83,090 2.0 % $33.08 $68,810 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $18.31 $22.78 $30.25 $40.37 $53.16
Annual Wage (2) $38,090 $47,380 $62,920 $83,970 $110,560


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
State Government (OES Designation) 18,740 0.82 $27.69 $57,600
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 18,290 1.74 $34.47 $71,710
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 11,640 0.90 $33.02 $68,670
Local Government (OES Designation) 11,500 0.21 $29.89 $62,170
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 5,860 0.28 $46.30 $96,310

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 18,290 1.74 $34.47 $71,710
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 11,640 0.90 $33.02 $68,670
State Government (OES Designation) 18,740 0.82 $27.69 $57,600
Other Pipeline Transportation 50 0.78 $37.05 $77,060
Scientific Research and Development Services 3,600 0.57 $39.71 $82,590

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Grantmaking and Giving Services 40 0.04 $58.63 $121,960
Oil and Gas Extraction 130 0.08 $46.83 $97,400
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 5,860 0.28 $46.30 $96,310
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (8) (8) $45.76 $95,180
Natural Gas Distribution 80 0.07 $42.11 $87,580


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 12,440 0.89 1.37 $37.28 $77,540
Texas 7,760 0.75 1.16 $33.73 $70,160
Florida 6,190 0.87 1.34 $26.78 $55,710
Washington 3,880 1.43 2.20 $35.90 $74,670
Virginia 3,500 0.99 1.52 $41.12 $85,520




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Vermont 700 2.39 3.69 $24.73 $51,450
Alaska 680 2.17 3.35 $32.78 $68,190
District of Columbia 1,370 2.13 3.29 $53.44 $111,160
Washington 3,880 1.43 2.20 $35.90 $74,670
Wyoming 360 1.31 2.02 $29.93 $62,240




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 1,370 2.13 3.29 $53.44 $111,160
Virginia 3,500 0.99 1.52 $41.12 $85,520
Massachusetts 2,360 0.75 1.15 $39.17 $81,470
California 12,440 0.89 1.37 $37.28 $77,540
Colorado 2,580 1.19 1.83 $36.91 $76,770





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,730 1.61 2.49 $49.81 $103,610
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 2,450 0.96 1.48 $31.08 $64,650
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 2,110 1.54 2.38 $37.66 $78,320
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA 2,010 2.50 3.85 $36.16 $75,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,780 0.47 0.72 $37.81 $78,650
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,600 0.96 1.48 $40.84 $84,960
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 1,590 1.28 1.98 $34.42 $71,600
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 1,570 1.31 2.02 $39.02 $81,170
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 1,420 1.02 1.58 $37.44 $77,870
Baltimore-Towson, MD 1,300 1.04 1.61 $34.50 $71,770




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Olympia, WA 490 5.20 8.02 $29.26 $60,860
Tallahassee, FL 720 4.54 7.01 $23.02 $47,890
Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA 410 4.17 6.44 $43.73 $90,960
Santa Fe, NM 250 4.15 6.40 $28.72 $59,730
Jefferson City, MO 290 4.01 6.19 $21.23 $44,150
Trenton-Ewing, NJ 850 3.91 6.04 $38.50 $80,080
Carson City, NV 100 3.89 6.01 $31.41 $65,340
Cheyenne, WY 150 3.57 5.52 $30.75 $63,970
Boulder, CO 470 3.04 4.70 $31.17 $64,830
College Station-Bryan, TX 250 2.70 4.17 $22.22 $46,220




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Framingham, MA NECTA Division 40 0.23 0.35 $58.73 $122,150
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,730 1.61 2.49 $49.81 $103,610
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 1,000 1.04 1.60 $48.00 $99,840
Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division 320 0.58 0.90 $44.86 $93,310
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division (8) (8) (8) $44.26 $92,060
Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA 410 4.17 6.44 $43.73 $90,960
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 100 0.81 1.26 $43.11 $89,670
Tulsa, OK 90 0.21 0.33 $42.88 $89,190
Huntsville, AL 130 0.64 0.99 $42.60 $88,600
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO 140 1.13 1.74 $42.20 $87,780

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwestern Montana nonmetropolitan area 260 2.21 3.42 $27.94 $58,120
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 250 1.33 2.06 $24.24 $50,420
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 220 3.04 4.70 $27.21 $56,590
Northeast Florida nonmetropolitan area 220 1.55 2.39 $29.56 $61,480
Eastern Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 210 1.56 2.41 $25.08 $52,170

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 50 3.05 4.71 $44.41 $92,370
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 220 3.04 4.70 $27.21 $56,590
Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area 200 2.78 4.29 $29.47 $61,290
Eastern Sierra Region of California nonmetropolitan area 30 2.45 3.78 $33.92 $70,550
Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area 130 2.38 3.68 $36.84 $76,630

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 50 3.05 4.71 $44.41 $92,370
Northwestern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 60 0.56 0.86 $38.83 $80,760
North Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area 50 0.74 1.14 $37.31 $77,610
Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area 130 2.38 3.68 $36.84 $76,630
Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area 40 1.03 1.59 $35.10 $73,000


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012