Also called: Environmental Scientists and Specialists
Environmental Scientists and Specialists build complex problem solving, coordination and judgment and decision making skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Conservation Scientists (93%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conservation Scientists | 93% | $73,010 | −11% | None |
| 2 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 90% | $80,730Pay for the broader BLS group “Compliance Officers” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Environmental Engineers | 87% | $107,110 | +30% | None |
| 4 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 84% | $141,900Pay for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 82% | $76,780 | −7% | None |
| 6 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 82% | $115,160 | +40% | None |
| 7 | Water Resource Specialists | 81% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Range Managers | 80% | $73,010Pay for the broader BLS group “Conservation Scientists” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 80% | $90,150 | +10% | None |
| 10 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 80% | $78,850 | −4% | Graduate degree |
Compared with Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, median $82,220. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as environmental scientists and specialists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
93% skill match · $73,010 · −11% pay
Equipment Selection · Management of Material Resources · Operation and Control
90% skill match · $80,730 (broader BLS group)
Operations Monitoring · Quality Control Analysis · Operation and Control
87% skill match · $107,110 · +30% pay
Judgment and Decision Making · Systems Analysis · Systems Evaluation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Conservation Scientists (93% skill match, median $73,010), Environmental Compliance Inspectors (90% skill match, median $80,730) and Environmental Engineers (87% skill match, median $107,110), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 10 pay more than environmental scientists and specialists at the median. The biggest increases: Medical Dosimetrists (+79%, $147,470), Petroleum Engineers (+76%, $144,910) and Nuclear Engineers (+63%, $133,970).
23 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 2 usually need a graduate degree: Soil and Plant Scientists and Biologists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.