Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In New Jersey, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $79,210 at the median, or about $38.08 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $79,736 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 40% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in New Jersey?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Jersey
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 40.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $83K | +5% | 90 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $78K | -2% | 950 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 40.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,166/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
New Jersey pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in New Jersey?
The median is $79,210 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,760, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $130,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,099/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 40.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $79,736 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.