Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Wisconsin make a median of $79,540 a year, or about $38.24 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $84,321 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $80K actually covers in Wisconsin, month by month
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Conservation scientists pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Wisconsin
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $86K | +8% | 30 |
| Madison | $85K | +7% | 260 |
| Green Bay | $82K | +3% | 40 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $79K | -0% | 50 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $67K | -16% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conservation scientists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,224/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Wisconsin pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $79,540 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,440, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $102,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,098/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 23.6% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $84,321 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.