Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Bismarck, ND make a median of $78,850 a year, or about $37.91 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.02), which stretches that salary to about $86,629 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,175/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Bismarck?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bismarck’s Regional Price Parity (91.02). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Bismarck
Conservation scientists pay in Bismarck tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,175/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.02 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for conservation scientists in metros near Bismarck, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $75K | $72K |
| Bozeman | $75K | $74K |
| Missoula | $84K | $87K |
| Helena | $69K | $72K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bismarck, ND
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Conservation Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99K | +36% | 110 |
| Colorado | $85K | +16% | 1,230 |
| Maryland | $83K | +14% | 470 |
| Idaho | $81K | +11% | 300 |
| Wyoming | $81K | +11% | 150 |
| Oregon | $81K | +11% | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $80K | +10% | 190 |
| California | $80K | +9% | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $80K | +9% | 970 |
| Alaska | $79K | +9% | 290 |
| Utah | $79K | +8% | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +8% | 760 |
| Washington | $78K | +7% | 1,270 |
| Virginia | $77K | +6% | 480 |
| North Dakota | $77K | +6% | 340 |
| Alabama | $77K | +5% | 110 |
| New York | $77K | +5% | 640 |
| New Mexico | $77K | +5% | 330 |
| Nebraska | $76K | +5% | 220 |
| South Dakota | $76K | +5% | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +4% | 60 |
| Maine | $76K | +4% | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | +2% | 130 |
| Montana | $74K | +1% | 560 |
| Connecticut | $74K | +1% | 140 |
| Arkansas | $73K | +0% | 230 |
| Nevada | $73K | +0% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $72K | -1% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $71K | -2% | 770 |
| Oklahoma | $71K | -2% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $71K | -3% | 250 |
| Vermont | $70K | -4% | 100 |
| West Virginia | $70K | -4% | 160 |
| Illinois | $70K | -5% | 730 |
| Iowa | $69K | -5% | 610 |
| Georgia | $69K | -5% | 360 |
| Texas | $69K | -6% | 1,970 |
| Kansas | $67K | -8% | 220 |
| Arizona | $67K | -9% | 410 |
| Hawaii | $66K | -10% | 220 |
| Indiana | $65K | -12% | 430 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -12% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $64K | -12% | 500 |
| Delaware | $64K | -13% | 80 |
| Michigan | $64K | -13% | 820 |
| Ohio | $63K | -13% | 680 |
| Missouri | $63K | -14% | 600 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -16% | 900 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -18% | 470 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -28% | 300 |
| Florida | $51K | -30% | 950 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bismarck numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bismarck?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,175/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Bismarck?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,380/month. At HUD’s $1,175/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Bismarck?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Bismarck compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Bismarck pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.02), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Bismarck, ND?
The median is $78,850 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,340, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $106,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Bismarck?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,193/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,175/month, which eats 22.6% 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 Bismarck?
Bismarck has a Regional Price Parity of 91.02 (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 $86,629 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.