Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Waco, TX make a median of $68,620 a year, or about $32.99 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.55), which stretches that salary to about $74,144 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $973/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K get you in Waco?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waco’s Regional Price Parity (92.55). 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 Waco
Conservation scientists pay in Waco tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $973/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.55 (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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for conservation scientists in metros near Waco, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $69K | $70K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $61K | $61K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $69K | $67K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $66K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waco, TX
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $28K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Waco numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waco?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $973/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Waco?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,206/month. At HUD’s $973/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is conservation scientist a high-paying job in Waco?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Waco compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Waco pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Waco, TX?
The median is $68,620 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,440, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $81,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Waco?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,722/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $973/month, which eats 20.6% 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 Waco?
Waco has a Regional Price Parity of 92.55 (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 $74,144 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.