The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2024 median annual wage of $80,060 for environmental scientists and specialists, including health, against $49,500 for all occupations. The occupation holds about 90,300 jobs with roughly 8,500 openings a year, and typical entry education is a bachelor's degree.
This is where the jobs are, and the data is not close. About 90,300 environmental scientist jobs and 8,500 annual openings, against 25,100 geoscientist jobs and 2,000 openings. Students chase petroleum programs while this field quietly does most of the hiring.
Is this path a fit for you?
You want geoscience work with steady demand, clear regulatory drivers, and a visible connection between your analysis and a decision about a real property.
What the work actually involves
A great deal of Phase I and Phase II site assessment, monitoring, and reporting. The early years involve significant field time and significant documentation. The work is rarely glamorous and is consistently needed.
Federal wage and outlook data
Figures below are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are May 2024 national medians and projections run from 2024 to 2034. This is occupation-wide data, not a starting salary and not a promise about any individual employer.
| Federal occupation | Environmental scientists and specialists, including health (19-2041) |
|---|---|
| May 2024 median wage | $80,060 |
| Lowest 10 percent earned below | $50,130 |
| Highest 10 percent earned above | $134,830 |
| Total employment, 2024 | 90,300 |
| Projected growth, 2024 to 2034 | +4% (About as fast as average) |
| Average annual openings | About 8,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
Median wage by industry
Industry moves pay more than almost anything else within a single occupation. This table is usually the most decision-relevant thing on a career page, and it is the one most often left out.
| Industry | May 2024 median |
|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $113,980 |
| Engineering services | $77,960 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The hiring math
BLS reported about 90,300 jobs for environmental scientists and specialists in 2024, with 4 percent projected growth through 2034 and roughly 8,500 openings per year. The May 2024 median annual wage was $80,060, with the lowest 10 percent under $50,130 and the highest 10 percent above $134,830.
Set that against geoscientists: 25,100 jobs and 2,000 annual openings. More than four times the annual hiring, at a median about $19,000 lower. That trade, more doors at somewhat lower pay, is the central decision in earth science careers and almost nobody frames it honestly for students.
| Measure | Environmental scientists |
|---|---|
| May 2024 median wage | $80,060 |
| Lowest 10 percent | $50,130 |
| Highest 10 percent | $134,830 |
| Federal government median | $113,980 |
| Total employment, 2024 | About 90,300 |
| Average annual openings | About 8,500 |
What the first three years look like
Field work, and a lot of it. Soil borings, monitoring well installation and sampling, site reconnaissance, and the documentation that follows each of them. You will learn regulatory frameworks by applying them under deadline pressure, which is the only way anyone actually learns them.
The people who advance quickly are the ones who write clearly. A technically correct report that a regulator rejects for lack of clarity has failed at its job, and firms notice who produces documents that get accepted the first time.
What this means for you
If job security is your priority, this is the recommendation. The regulatory drivers behind environmental site work are durable, and contaminated land does not stop existing when a commodity cycle turns.
Get the PG license. In this field it is the credential that separates the people who sign reports from the people who prepare them for someone else to sign, and that distinction shows up directly in pay.
The education pathway
There is no single route, but there is a common sequence. Each stage below answers a different question, and the order matters more than people expect.
| Stage | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Bachelor degree | Geology, environmental science, or environmental geology. Take hydrogeology, geochemistry, and GIS. |
| Entry consulting role | Staff geologist or environmental scientist at a consulting firm. High field content, steep learning curve, and the fastest route to qualifying experience. |
| Regulatory fluency | CERCLA, RCRA, state voluntary cleanup programs, and the ASTM standards behind Phase I assessments. This knowledge is what makes you billable. |
| Specialize | Remediation design, vapor intrusion, emerging contaminants, or brownfield redevelopment. Emerging contaminant work is expanding quickly. |
| Licensure, if your path needs it | Environmental consulting, state agencies, and any work signed and sealed for a client generally expect a Professional Geologist license. That means the ASBOG Fundamentals exam, several years of qualifying supervised experience, and the Practice exam. Start tracking your experience hours in year one of your first job, not in year four. |
Skills worth building deliberately
- site assessment
- soil and groundwater sampling
- regulatory frameworks
- technical writing
- GIS
Relevant credentials
Professional Geologist Licensure
The single most consequential credential in applied geology. In many states it is not optional if you want to take professional responsibility for your own work.
ASBOG FGASBOG Fundamentals of Geology Exam
A breadth examination across undergraduate geology. The first formal step toward Professional Geologist licensure in most states.
ASBOG PGASBOG Practice of Geology Exam
The applied professional judgment examination, and the final examination step before Professional Geologist licensure.
CHGCertified Hydrogeologist
A specialty designation layered on top of geologist licensure in the states that offer it. Where it exists, it is often required for specific groundwater work.
Frequently asked questions
Environmental geology or environmental science?
Environmental geology is the subsurface-focused version and aligns better with PG licensure. Environmental science is broader and may suit policy, ecology, or compliance paths. For consulting, the geology route generally has the clearer licensure path.
Is consulting or government better?
Consulting pays more and demands more hours. Government offers stability, benefits, and, per BLS, a higher federal median at $113,980. Many people do consulting first for the experience and move to an agency later.
Do I need a master degree?
Usually not for entry consulting work. It matters more if you want to specialize in modeling, risk assessment, or move toward technical leadership.
