Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in California
Considering working as an Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in California? Below are the key facts. Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” (19-1023), “Conservation Scientists” (19-1031), “Forest and Conservation Technicians” (19-4071), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Fish and Game Wardens” (33-3031), and “Forest and Conservation Workers” (45-4011).
What do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Make in California?
For environmental scientists and specialists, including health working in California, the median annual wage is $97,520 per year (or about $46.89/hour).Pay can range from $60,430 at the 10th percentile to $158,720 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,430 | $29.05 |
| 25th percentile | $76,600 | $36.83 |
| Median (50th) | $97,520 | $46.89 |
| 75th percentile | $129,170 | $62.10 |
| 90th percentile | $158,720 | $76.31 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California relative to the national average — is 1.33, suggesting that environmental scientists and specialists, including health are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, environmental scientists and specialists, including health earn a median of $90,139 per year ($43.34/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 65,098 environmental scientists and specialists, including health nationwide. In California alone, around 13,200 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 920 environmental scientists and specialists, including health.
Top California Metros for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
The metro areas below employ the most environmental scientists and specialists, including health in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3,390 | $102,420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,530 | $101,540 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,630 | $110,240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,190 | $92,540 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 770 | $96,390 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 450 | $99,750 |
| Fresno, CA | 370 | $90,890 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 360 | $63,460 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 200 | $95,100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 200 | $95,100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 190 | $92,980 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 150 | $95,100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 130 | $95,100 |
| Redding, CA | 120 | $95,100 |
| Salinas, CA | 110 | $95,100 |
| Vallejo, CA | 100 | $80,710 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 90 | $86,680 |
| Chico, CA | 60 | $84,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | 60 | $95,100 |
| Modesto, CA | 50 | $84,340 |
| Napa, CA | 50 | $97,620 |
| El Centro, CA | 40 | $92,690 |
| Visalia, CA | 40 | $89,110 |
Top States for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Employment
The table below shows the states where the most environmental scientists and specialists, including health work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 13,200 |
| Florida | 5,840 |
| North Carolina | 4,330 |
| Washington | 4,280 |
| Texas | 4,090 |
| New York | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | 2,990 |
| Massachusetts | 2,890 |
| Michigan | 2,700 |
| Virginia | 2,700 |
| Ohio | 2,570 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,570 |
| Colorado | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | 1,980 |
| Maryland | 1,800 |
| Arizona | 1,590 |
| Georgia | 1,530 |
| Louisiana | 1,520 |
| District of Columbia | 1,480 |
| Oregon | 1,400 |
Highest-Paying States for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
These states pay the most for environmental scientists and specialists, including health.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $122,440 |
| California | $97,520 |
| Massachusetts | $96,330 |
| Oregon | $93,560 |
| Rhode Island | $90,460 |
| Illinois | $89,010 |
| Washington | $88,670 |
| Minnesota | $87,210 |
| Alaska | $87,060 |
| Colorado | $86,720 |
Skills
Key environmental scientists and specialists, including health skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for environmental scientists and specialists, including health, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
- Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
- Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.
- Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.
- Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
- Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
Work Activities
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Getting Information
- Working with Computers
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Processing Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Autodesk AutoCAD In-demand technologies: ESRI ArcGIS software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Sustainability Science
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Marine Science
- Environmental Geosciences
- Public Health
- Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Chemistry
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to environmental scientists and specialists, including health include:
- Water Resource Specialists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Also Known As
Air Analyst, Ecological Modeler, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Designer, Environmental Health Specialist, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS Specialist), Environmental Permitting Specialist, Environmental Planner, Environmental Programs Specialist, Environmental Project Specialist, Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental Resources Specialist, Environmental Safety Specialist, Environmental Scientist.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 19-2041.00
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