Environmental Researcher salary

Those with one to four years of experience at the company can expect to make $57K annually on average. Five to nine years of work experience seem to result in median wages of $81K per year. Broken down by tenure, the largest share of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employees (36 percent) have 10-19 years of experience and earn $97K annually on average.

Jobs

Bringing in the most money are Government Program Managers — their earnings average about $122K per year. Environmental Scientists are a close second at approximately $101K along with Mechanical Engineers (around $93K) and Environmental Protection Specialists (approximately $86K). Public Affairs Specialists are among the lowest paid at a median salary of around $59K.

Locations

When it comes to location, the highest average paycheck (about $110K annually) can be spotted in Chicago, Ill.; Washington, DC ($98K), Seattle, Wash. ($96K), and Raleigh, N.C. ($90K) are the next top-paying cities. At about $61K, Durham, N.C. is home to some of the lowest pay in the country. Across its U.S. offices, the state of Illinois pays U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most — $110K per year on average.

Certifications and Degrees

Certified Professional Engineers are compensated at a much higher rate than non-authorized workers, bringing in close to approximately $113K annually. Earning a Licensed Lawyer certification garners significant financial rewards of around $102K per year on average. Regarding salaries and education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pays those with a Master of Science (MS), Geology the most — $115K.

Skills

The highest-paying skill to have may be Regulatory Compliance; employees who claim proficiency also report a higher average salary of $117K annually. Project Management is a popular skill among U.S. Environmental Protection Agency workers, with just under one in three of those surveyed reporting using it on the job. Three more common skills are Data Analysis, Research Analysis, and Environmental Consulting.