SOC 19-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — Virginia
Virginia · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Virginia is $82,230 per year, close to the national median of $82,220 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Virginia is $82,230 per year, close to the national median of $82,220 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $57,720 at the tenth percentile to more than $135,580 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $68,030 to $102,750.
The area has 2,850 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Virginia ranks 17th by median wage. Richmond leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $80,350. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 191st of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,720 | −29.8% |
| 25th | $68,030 | −17.3% |
| Median (50th) | $82,230 | +0.0% |
| 75th | $102,750 | +25.0% |
| 90th | $135,580 | +64.9% |
| Mean | $90,500 | +10.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond | $80,350 | 780 | |
| 2 | Virginia Beach | $78,600 | 420 | |
| 3 | Charlottesville | $77,850 | 60 | |
| 4 | Roanoke | $75,330 | 140 | |
| 5 | Harrisonburg | $74,450 | 60 | |
| 6 | Blacksburg | $70,820 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $82,230 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$82,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$81,335US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,230 a year, 0.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,720 to $135,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,850 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Richmond, at $80,350.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Virginia?
The median annual wage is $82,230, or $39.53 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 Virginia is 0.0% 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 Virginia earns more than $135,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,720 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 Richmond, at $80,350 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,850 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. 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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