Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Alabama make a median of $77,000 a year, or about $37.02 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $87,144 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $77K get you in Alabama?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Alabama
Conservation scientists pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 22.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 22.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,924/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is conservation scientist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Alabama pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Alabama?
The median is $77,000 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,730, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $115,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,906/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 22.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conservation scientists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median conservation scientists salary is worth about $87,144 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do conservation scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.