Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In Louisiana, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $69,820 at the median, or about $33.57 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $79,995 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 26% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Louisiana?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in Louisiana runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $82K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in Louisiana
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $76K | +9% | 50 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $75K | +8% | 340 |
| Lafayette | $70K | +0% | 80 |
| Baton Rouge | $70K | -0% | 790 |
| Lake Charles | $68K | -3% | 60 |
| Monroe | $68K | -3% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,993/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $70K here vs. $82K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
Louisiana pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in Louisiana?
The median is $69,820 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,890, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $132,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,593/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 25.9% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $79,995 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.