Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Springfield, IL make a median of $107,990 a year, or about $51.92 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.75), which stretches that salary to about $116,431 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,203/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $108K get you in Springfield?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Springfield’s Regional Price Parity (92.75). 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
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What this looks like in Springfield
Springfield sits well above the national pay line for conservation scientists, local pay runs about 48% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,203/month, 18.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.75 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Springfield offers a genuinely strong financial position for conservation scientistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for conservation scientists in metros near Springfield, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $63K | $61K |
| Champaign-Urbana | $64K | $70K |
| Madison | $85K | $87K |
| Jefferson City | $56K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Springfield, IL
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $76K 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 Springfield numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Springfield?
Yes — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 18.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,203/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Springfield?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,788/month. At HUD’s $1,203/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Springfield?
Local pay is 48% above the national median — $108K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Springfield compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Springfield pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +48%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.75), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Springfield, IL?
The median is $107,990 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,130, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $139,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in Springfield?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,584/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,203/month, which eats 18.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conservation scientists salary go in Springfield?
Springfield has a Regional Price Parity of 92.75 (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 $116,431 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.