Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Maine make a median of $75,900 a year, or about $36.49 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $77,687 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Maine?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Maine
Conservation scientists pay in Maine tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $78K | +3% | 130 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,889/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Maine?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Maine compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Maine pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Maine?
The median is $75,900 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,150, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $107,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,822/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 26.6% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $77,687 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.