Conservation Scientists Salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Conservation Scientists in Champaign-Urbana, IL make a median of $74,960 a year, or about $36.04 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.7), which stretches that salary to about $80,863 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,122/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Champaign-Urbana?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Champaign-Urbana’s Regional Price Parity (92.7). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $120K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $86K | +27% | 880 |
| California | $82K | +20% | 1,940 |
| Washington | $81K | +20% | 940 |
| Nevada | $80K | +17% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $80K | +17% | 260 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +14% | 80 |
| Utah | $77K | +14% | 300 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +14% | 690 |
| Wyoming | $77K | +13% | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +13% | 730 |
| Alabama | $76K | +12% | 110 |
| Arizona | $76K | +12% | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $76K | +12% | 1,010 |
| Alaska | $75K | +11% | 320 |
| Maryland | $75K | +11% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $75K | +10% | 220 |
| Tennessee | $75K | +10% | 200 |
| Montana | $75K | +10% | 440 |
| South Dakota | $73K | +7% | 400 |
| Arkansas | $73K | +7% | 180 |
| Illinois | $73K | +7% | 730 |
| Idaho | $73K | +7% | 290 |
| New Mexico | $72K | +7% | 390 |
| West Virginia | $68K | +1% | 140 |
| Georgia | $68K | +0% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $68K | -0% | 150 |
| Virginia | $67K | -1% | 720 |
| New York | $66K | -4% | 750 |
| Texas | $65K | -4% | 2,070 |
| Maine | $65K | -4% | 280 |
| Iowa | $64K | -6% | 590 |
| Kentucky | $64K | -6% | 180 |
| Indiana | $63K | -7% | 430 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -9% | 290 |
| Vermont | $62K | -9% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -9% | 570 |
| Michigan | $61K | -10% | 630 |
| Missouri | $61K | -10% | 520 |
| New Jersey | $60K | -11% | 530 |
| Ohio | $60K | -12% | 700 |
| Louisiana | $58K | -14% | 240 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -16% | 480 |
| Delaware | $56K | -18% | 60 |
| South Carolina | $54K | -20% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $53K | -22% | 1,410 |
| Florida | $53K | -22% | 720 |
| Hawaii | $47K | -31% | 210 |
| Kansas | $46K | -32% | 460 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Champaign-Urbana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do conservation scientists make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median is $74,960 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,440, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $158,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Champaign-Urbana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,784/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,122/month, which eats 23.5% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Champaign-Urbana has a Regional Price Parity of 92.7 (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 $80,863 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.