Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA make a median of $54,250 a year, or about $26.08 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers.
So what does $54K get you in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Scranton--Wilkes-Barre’s Regional Price Parity (93.6). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
Pay for conservation scientists in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,252/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for conservation scientists in metros near Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $59K | , |
| Pittsburgh | $59K | , |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $65K | , |
| Lancaster | $54K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $49K 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 states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Scranton--Wilkes-Barre numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,252/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,855/month. At HUD’s $1,252/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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $54K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Scranton--Wilkes-Barre compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median is $54,250 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,580, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $96,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,664/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,252/month, which eats 34.2% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median conservation scientists salary is worth about $57,959 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.