Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in West Virginia make a median of $69,910 a year, or about $33.61 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $78,524 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
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What $70K actually covers in West Virginia, month by month
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Conservation scientists pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in West Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $82K | +17% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,913/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
West Virginia pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in West Virginia?
The median is $69,910 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,670, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $133,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,573/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 22% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $78,524 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.