Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Madison, WI make a median of $85,110 a year, or about $40.92 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.29), that's roughly $87,481 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,168/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Madison?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Madison’s Regional Price Parity (97.29). 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 Madison
Madison sits well above the national pay line for conservation scientists, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,168/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.29) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Madison offers a genuinely strong financial position for conservation scientistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for conservation scientists in metros near Madison, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $67K | $69K |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $79K | $87K |
| Green Bay | $82K | $88K |
| Eau Claire | $86K | $93K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Madison, WI
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $54K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Madison?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,168/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Madison?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,045/month. At HUD’s $1,168/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 Madison?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $85K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Madison compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Madison pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.29), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Madison, WI?
The median is $85,110 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,750, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $105,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Madison?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,400/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,168/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Madison?
Madison has a Regional Price Parity of 97.29 (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 $87,481 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.