Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In Oregon, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $97,440 at the median, or about $46.85 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $95,119 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 25.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Oregon?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for environmental scientists and specialists, including health, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $82K. Rent runs $1,555/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) 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, Oregon
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in Oregon
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene-Springfield | $98K | +1% | 80 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $98K | +1% | 1,040 |
| Salem | $98K | +1% | 80 |
| Bend | $94K | -4% | 70 |
| Corvallis | $83K | -15% | 60 |
| Medford | $81K | -17% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/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 Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,732/month. At HUD’s $1,555/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 Oregon?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $97K here vs. $82K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
Oregon pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in Oregon?
The median is $97,440 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,200, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $132,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,745/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 27.1% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary is worth about $95,119 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.