EN

Occupation · SOC 19-2041

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

There are 89,250 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $82,220 a year. The most jobs are in Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CA.

ScienceTypical education: Bachelor's degree
89,250
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$82,220
Median pay a year
Middle half: $64,490–$107,970
7,300
Annual openings
10-year change: +6.1%
478
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+10.1% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 257 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAMedian pay $108,430 · LCA filings 183,520$108,43018
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $85,510 · LCA filings 533,350$85,51053
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $108,160 · LCA filings 352,710$108,16035
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $105,340 · LCA filings 192,520$105,34019
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $102,980 · LCA filings 142,490$102,98014
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $100,360 · LCA filings 312,270$100,36031
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $95,170 · LCA filings 311,840$95,17031
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $77,710 · LCA filings 41,500$77,7104
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZMedian pay $80,600 · LCA filings 51,430$80,6005
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $97,860 · LCA filings 51,370$97,8605

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Kennewick–Richland, WAEmployment 300 · LCA filings 5$129,1103005
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 1,320 · LCA filings 29$127,2101,32029
Monroe, MIEmployment 80 · LCA filings 0$114,160800
Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CAEmployment 170 · LCA filings 0$110,2601700
Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CAEmployment 190 · LCA filings 1$109,7101901

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 39 · Employment 3,35053393,350
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployers with LCA filings 21 · Employment 2,71035212,710
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 22 · Employment 2,27031222,270
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 19 · Employment 1,84031191,840
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 19 · Employment 1,32029191,320

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CALevel II $95,347 · Level III $113,402 · Level IV $131,435$77,314$95,347$113,402$131,435
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $77,022 · Level III $93,704 · Level IV $110,365$60,362$77,022$93,704$110,365
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $96,034 · Level III $117,811 · Level IV $139,610$74,235$96,034$117,811$139,610
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $87,131 · Level III $107,682 · Level IV $128,253$66,560$87,131$107,682$128,253
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $93,995 · Level III $109,824 · Level IV $125,632$78,187$93,995$109,824$125,632
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $87,942 · Level III $104,707 · Level IV $121,493$71,157$87,942$104,707$121,493
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $84,053 · Level III $104,666 · Level IV $125,258$63,461$84,053$104,666$125,258
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $71,240 · Level III $85,134 · Level IV $99,029$57,346$71,240$85,134$99,029
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $76,357 · Level III $92,726 · Level IV $109,096$59,987$76,357$92,726$109,096
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $81,806 · Level III $97,510 · Level IV $113,214$66,102$81,806$97,510$113,214
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $105,040 · Level III $127,192 · Level IV $149,365$82,867$105,040$127,192$149,365

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchCIP 03.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months1,233STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesCIP 40.06STEM OPT · up to 36 months633STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biology, GeneralCIP 26.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months4,172STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in every metro area

All 257 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

Find jobs on Where They Hire

U.S. jobsJobs abroadCompanies

Related occupations · Science

Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherMedical Scientists, except EpidemiologistsBiological TechniciansChemical TechniciansChemistsEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSocial Science Research Assistants

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology