Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In Georgia, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $85,710 at the median, or about $41.21 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $93,275 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in Georgia?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in Georgia
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $106K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in Georgia
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $92K | +8% | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $90K | +5% | 60 |
| Dalton | $88K | +3% | 40 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $88K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Warner Robins | $85K | -1% | 50 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $76K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,388/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental scientists and specialists, including health a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
Georgia pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in Georgia?
The median is $85,710 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,470, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $162,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,369/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 26.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary is worth about $93,275 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths 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.