Salary distribution
Where Illinois 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 $62,370 and $126,190, with a median of $89,010.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $86,730. 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 | 2 | $86,824 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $79,748 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $118,516 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $99,910 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Climate Change Policy Analysts - KBGFJG332520-1 | 3 | $78,500 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Environmental Scientist II | 1 | $80,995 |
| Trinity Consultants, Inc. | Associate Environmental Consultant, Acoustics | 1 | $92,464 |
| Recurrent Energy Development Holdings, LLC | Project Developer, NA (US East Region) | 1 | $99,819 |
| Veolia North America LLC | Approvals Coordinator | 1 | $70,688 |
| ICF Incorporated, LLC | Senior Health Scientist | 1 | $77,857 |
| University of Illinois | Senior Ecosystem Modeler | 1 | $100,000 |
| Ryan Specialty, LLC | Environmental Risk Engineer | 1 | $95,790 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Environmental Scientist II at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$80,995ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25227-244394
- Associate Environmental Consultant, Acoustics at Trinity Consultants, Inc.$92,464ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Jul 14, 2025I-200-25188-157046
- Project Developer, NA (US East Region) at Recurrent Energy Development Holdings, LLC$99,819ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-102184
- Approvals Coordinator at Veolia North America LLC$70,688SaugetWage Level IIIDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-074459
- Senior Health Scientist at ICF Incorporated, LLC$77,857ChicagoWage Level IDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-003600
- Climate Change Policy Analysts - KBGFJG103567-20 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$166,345AuroraWage Level IIIDecided Mar 25, 2025I-200-25077-783030
- Climate Change Policy Analysts - KBGFJG332520-1 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$78,500ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Feb 28, 2025I-200-25052-713379
- Climate Change Policy Analysts - KBGFJG332520-1 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$78,500ChampaignWage Level IIDecided Feb 28, 2025I-200-25052-713382
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 Illinois
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 Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $79,748.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 6 | $79,748 |
| Energy and utilities | Recurrent Energy Development Holdings, LLC | 2 | $85,253 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 1 | $100,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Ryan Specialty, LLC | 1 | $95,790 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois 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 Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$96,410
Compare Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois is $89,010.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- The Illinois median is +9.7% versus the BLS national figure of $81,159.
- What is the salary range for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $52,790 and the 90th-percentile at $164,990, 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.