Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In Missouri, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $61,050 at the median, or about $29.35 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $68,619 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Missouri?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in Missouri runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $82K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (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, Missouri
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in Missouri
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $81K | +32% | 580 |
| St. Louis | $61K | +0% | 500 |
| Jefferson City | $60K | -2% | 280 |
| Springfield | $59K | -4% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,948/month. At HUD’s $1,097/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 environmental scientists and specialists, including health a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $61K here vs. $82K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
Missouri pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in Missouri?
The median is $61,050 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,140, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $88,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,081/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 26.9% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $68,619 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.