Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia environmental scientists and specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $93,130 and $155,670, with a median of $122,440.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 17 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $127,099. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $77,250 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $97,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $182,173 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $145,400 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE | Deputy Director, Ocean Program | 3 | $127,099 |
| The International Council on Clean Transportation | Program Lead, Marine Team | 2 | $145,400 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Climate Change Policy Analysts - KBGFJG110455-26 | 2 | $182,173 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists, Inc. | Scientist, Food and Environment | 2 | $119,887 |
| League of Conservation Voters, Inc. | Director of Political Affairs | 1 | $90,236 |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND US | Senior Program Officer, GCF Accredited Entity | 1 | $91,100 |
| THE OCEAN FOUNDATION | Consultant | 1 | $175,011 |
| Inter-American Dialogue | Program Director | 1 | $147,000 |
| The Nuclear Company | Policy Analyst | 1 | $105,000 |
| Boston Consulting Group, Inc. | Senior Knowledge Analyst ITC ESG | 1 | $97,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Program Lead, Marine Team at The International Council on Clean Transportation$145,400WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Aug 6, 2025I-200-25211-208796
- Climate Change Policy Analysts - KBGFJG110455-26 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$182,173WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Jul 11, 2025I-200-25185-153790
- Deputy Director, Ocean Program at WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE$198,213WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-039611
- Scientist, Food and Environment at Union of Concerned Scientists, Inc.$119,887Washington, DCDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25121-924859
- Scientist, Food and Environment at Union of Concerned Scientists, Inc.$119,887Washington, DCDecided May 1, 2025I-200-25114-903357
- Director of Political Affairs at League of Conservation Voters, Inc.$90,236WashingtonDecided Apr 25, 2025I-200-25108-881385
- Regional Manager, LAC at WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE$127,099WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Apr 4, 2025I-200-25087-811999
- Senior Program Officer, GCF Accredited Entity at WORLD WILDLIFE FUND US$91,100WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Mar 14, 2025I-200-25067-759839
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 17 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Nonprofit and civic leads with a median of $119,887.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit and civic | WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE | 10 | $119,887 |
| Professional services | The International Council on Clean Transportation | 6 | $145,400 |
| Government and public sector | Inter-American Dialogue | 1 | $147,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- 02
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- 03
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.
- 04
Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- 05
Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- 06
Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.
- 07
Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- 08
Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.4%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for environmental scientists and specialists in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$109,520
Compare Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in District of Columbia is $122,440.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- The District of Columbia median is +50.9% versus the BLS national figure of $81,159.
- What is the salary range for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $75,050 and the 90th-percentile at $182,350, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Environmental Scientists and Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.4% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.