Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in North Carolina make a median of $64,460 a year, or about $30.99 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $69,566 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in North Carolina?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for conservation scientists in North Carolina runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in North Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $82K | +27% | 50 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $79K | +23% | N/A |
| Asheville | $65K | +1% | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $50K | -22% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,831/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $64K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
North Carolina pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in North Carolina?
The median is $64,460 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,190, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $111,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,236/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 30.3% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $69,566 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.