Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Idaho make a median of $81,330 a year, or about $39.1 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $86,632 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $81K actually covers in Idaho, month by month
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What this looks like in Idaho
Idaho sits well above the national pay line for conservation scientists, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Idaho offers a genuinely strong financial position for conservation scientists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $67K | -17% | 70 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,197/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Idaho?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $81K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Idaho pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Idaho?
The median is $81,330 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,300, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $99,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,162/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 22% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $86,632 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.