Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in South Carolina make a median of $52,310 a year, or about $25.15 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $56,145 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $52K actually covers in South Carolina, month by month
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for conservation scientists in South Carolina runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $73K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for conservation scientists.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in South Carolina
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $58K | +10% | 60 |
| Columbia | $46K | -12% | 80 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,636/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $52K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
South Carolina pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in South Carolina?
The median is $52,310 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,810, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $96,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 35.8% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $56,145 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.