Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Florida make a median of $51,130 a year, or about $24.58 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $51,867 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 46.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $51K actually covers in Florida, month by month
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for conservation scientists in Florida runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $73K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 46.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for conservation scientists.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Florida
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | $65K | +28% | 40 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $63K | +24% | 50 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $62K | +21% | 90 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $62K | +21% | 50 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $51K | +0% | 210 |
| Jacksonville | $50K | -2% | 60 |
| Tallahassee | $46K | -10% | 40 |
| Port St. Lucie | $44K | -15% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 46.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,655/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $51K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Florida pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Florida?
The median is $51,130 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,110, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $98,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,594/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 46.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a conservation scientists salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $51,867 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.