SOC 19-1031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Conservation Scientists — Illinois
Illinois · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Conservation Scientists in Illinois is $69,590 per year, close to the national median of $73,010 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Conservation Scientists in Illinois is $69,590 per year, close to the national median of $73,010 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $42,020 at the tenth percentile to more than $117,590 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $51,630 to $95,820.
Employment stands at 730, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 34th by median wage. Springfield leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $107,990. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 314th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,020 | −42.4% |
| 25th | $51,630 | −29.3% |
| Median (50th) | $69,590 | −4.7% |
| 75th | $95,820 | +31.2% |
| 90th | $117,590 | +61.1% |
| Mean | $75,750 | +3.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $107,990 | 40 | |
| 2 | Champaign | $64,470 | 40 | |
| 3 | Chicago | $62,710 | 370 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $69,590 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$69,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,590US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $69,590 a year, 4.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,020 to $117,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 730 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Springfield, at $107,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Conservation Scientists in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $69,590, or $33.46 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $73,010, so pay in Illinois is 4.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $117,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,020 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Springfield, at $107,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 730 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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