Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Rhode Island make a median of $76,130 a year, or about $36.6 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $174K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $74,806 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Rhode Island?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Conservation scientists pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) 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, Rhode Island
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $174K or more, a $117K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $81K | +6% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 31.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,395/month. At HUD’s $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Rhode Island pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Rhode Island?
The median is $76,130 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,580, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $173,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,955/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 31.2% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median conservation scientists salary is worth about $74,806 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.