Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Michigan 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 $61,120 and $94,520, with a median of $76,080.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 20 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $67,412. 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 | 10 | $60,117 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $78,600 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $70,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $67,974 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 6 | $64,355 |
| Grand Valley State University | Research Scientist | 2 | $60,000 |
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | Research Associate | 2 | $70,000 |
| Michigan Technological University | Research Associate | 2 | $67,974 |
| EASTERN RESEARCH GROUP, INC. | DATA ANALYST | 1 | $72,253 |
| Element Building Sciences Co LLC | Project Consultant - Risk Assessment | 1 | $60,233 |
| Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc. | Algae Taxonomist | 1 | $70,000 |
| MICHIGAN PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE | Laboratory Scientist “ Clinical Organic Unit | 1 | $73,091 |
| Michigan State University | Research Associate | 1 | $67,824 |
| STEELCASE INC. | SR. SUSTAINABILITY ANALYST | 1 | $78,600 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- DATA ANALYST at EASTERN RESEARCH GROUP, INC.$72,253ANN ARBORDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-714779
- India Program Coordinator at THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INC.$82,500DetroitWage Level IIDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26054-656563
- Research Associate at Michigan Technological University$67,974HoughtonWage Level IVDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-617468
- Project Consultant - Risk Assessment at Element Building Sciences Co LLC$60,233TroyWage Level IDecided Sep 5, 2025I-200-25240-274853
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Michigan$67,000Ann ArborWage Level IDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-237415
- RESEARCH ASSOCIATE at MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY$70,000East LansingWage Level IIIDecided Aug 13, 2025I-200-25218-224470
- RESEARCH ASSOCIATE at WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY$56,722DETROITWage Level IDecided Aug 13, 2025I-200-25218-225451
- Research Associate at Michigan State University$67,824East LansingWage Level IDecided Jul 8, 2025I-200-25181-140319
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.
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Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay by experience level in Michigan
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 specialties in Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 14 certified offers. The most common variant is Research Associate at a median of $67,974.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate | MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | 6 | $67,974 |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | University of Michigan | 5 | $65,000 |
| Research Scientist | Grand Valley State University | 3 | $60,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 20 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $66,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | University of Michigan | 14 | $66,000 |
| Professional services | EASTERN RESEARCH GROUP, INC. | 3 | $70,000 |
| Government and public sector | MICHIGAN PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE | 1 | $73,091 |
| Manufacturing | STEELCASE INC. | 1 | $78,600 |
| Nonprofit and civic | THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INC. | 1 | $82,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Michigan
Metro-level salary data for environmental scientists and specialists in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$74,300
Compare Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Michigan with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan is $76,080.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- The Michigan median is -10.3% versus the BLS national figure of $84,804.
- What is the salary range for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $52,300 and the 90th-percentile at $111,770, 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.