Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA make a median of $68,560 a year, or about $32.96 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.71), which stretches that salary to about $73,951 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,271/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K get you in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford’s Regional Price Parity (92.71). 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 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
Conservation scientists pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,271/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.71 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for conservation scientists in metros near Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $66K | $68K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $64K | $65K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $79K | $81K |
| Charleston | $82K | $92K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $47K 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 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,271/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,346/month. At HUD’s $1,271/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?
The median is $68,560 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,770, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $102,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,433/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,271/month, which eats 28.7% 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 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford has a Regional Price Parity of 92.71 (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 $73,951 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.