Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in New Jersey make a median of $64,020 a year, or about $30.78 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $64,445 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 49.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in New Jersey?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Pay for conservation scientists in New Jersey runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $73K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 48.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) 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 scientistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $87K | +36% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 48.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,020/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $64K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
New Jersey pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in New Jersey?
The median is $64,020 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,340, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $107,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,282/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 48.3% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $64,445 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.