SOC 19-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — Kansas City
Kansas City, MO-KS · 3 metro areas compared
At $80,690, median pay for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Kansas City, MO tracks the national median of $82,220 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $80,690, median pay for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Kansas City, MO tracks the national median of $82,220 closely. Pay ranges from under $53,020 at the tenth percentile to more than $135,660 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,210 to $100,640.
The area has 580 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.91 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, St. Louis records the highest median at $61,050. Of the 613 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 143rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,020 | −35.5% |
| 25th | $64,210 | −21.9% |
| Median (50th) | $80,690 | −1.9% |
| 75th | $100,640 | +22.4% |
| 90th | $135,660 | +65.0% |
| Mean | $88,400 | +7.5% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $61,050 | 500 | |
| 2 | Jefferson City | $59,760 | 280 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $58,660 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kansas City run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $80,690 goes as far as $88,866 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,690as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$88,866US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,690 a year, 1.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,020 to $135,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 580 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $61,050.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Kansas City, MO?
The median annual wage is $80,690, or $38.79 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 $82,220, so pay in Kansas City, MO is 1.9% 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 Kansas City, MO earns more than $135,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,020 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 St. Louis, at $61,050 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 580 jobs in this occupation in Kansas City, MO. 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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