Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In Washington, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $98,300 at the median, or about $47.26 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $96,363 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 27.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in Washington?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for environmental scientists and specialists, including health, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $82K. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in Washington
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland | $129K | +31% | 300 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $103K | +5% | 2,490 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $97K | -2% | 150 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $89K | -9% | 70 |
| Bellingham | $87K | -11% | 110 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $87K | -12% | 500 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $87K | -12% | 170 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $81K | -18% | 30 |
| Yakima | $77K | -22% | 130 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,268/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $98K here vs. $82K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
Washington pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in Washington?
The median is $98,300 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,140, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $153,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,462/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 28.3% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $96,363 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.