SOC 19-1031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Conservation Scientists — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Conservation Scientists in Seattle, WA is $82,380 per year, 12.8% above the national median of $73,010.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Conservation Scientists in Seattle, WA is $82,380 per year, 12.8% above the national median of $73,010. Pay ranges from under $61,650 at the tenth percentile to more than $128,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $77,180 to $103,980.
Employment stands at 310, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Mount Vernon leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 302nd of 693 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,650 | −15.6% |
| 25th | $77,180 | +5.7% |
| Median (50th) | $82,380 | +12.8% |
| 75th | $103,980 | +42.4% |
| 90th | $128,110 | +75.5% |
| Mean | $92,380 | +26.5% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon | $78,460 | 40 | |
| 2 | Olympia | $78,460 | 320 | |
| 3 | Yakima | $78,460 | 30 | |
| 4 | Bellingham | $77,600 | 50 | |
| 5 | Bremerton | $77,190 | 40 | |
| 6 | Spokane | $74,320 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $82,380 buys what $76,991 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,991US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,380 a year, 12.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,650 to $128,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Mount Vernon, at $78,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Conservation Scientists in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $82,380, or $39.61 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 Seattle, WA is 12.8% higher. 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 Seattle, WA earns more than $128,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,650 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 Mount Vernon, at $78,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. 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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