Jobs Similar to Environmental Scientists and Specialists
Also called: Environmental Scientists and Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to environmental scientists and specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Conservation Scientists, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists and Soil and Plant Scientists.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists: $82,220 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Environmental Scientists and Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conservation Scientists | 83% | $73,010−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 82% | $76,780−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 81% | $78,850−4% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Environmental Restoration PlannersSame group | 80% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 80% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 79% | $55,090−33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Biologists | 78% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Microbiologists | 78% | $87,990+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSame group | 78% | $101,920+24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 78% | $115,160+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Environmental Engineers | 77% | $107,110+30% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Atmospheric and Space ScientistsSame group | 77% | $99,070+20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Range Managers | 77% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Water Resource Specialists | 77% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 77% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Animal Scientists | 76% | $68,940−16% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 76% | $90,150+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | HydrologistsSame group | 76% | $96,600+17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 76% | $61,560−25% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Foresters | 75% | $76,400−7% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Conservation Scientists
83% similar · $73,010 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
82% similar · $76,780 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Soil and Plant Scientists
81% similar · $78,850 (−4%) · Graduate degree
- 4Environmental Restoration Planners
80% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Environmental Compliance Inspectors
80% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
79% similar · $55,090 (−33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Biologists
78% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 8Microbiologists
78% similar · $87,990 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
78% similar · $101,920 (+24%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
78% similar · $115,160 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Environmental Engineers
77% similar · $107,110 (+30%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Atmospheric and Space Scientists
77% similar · $99,070 (+20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Range Managers
77% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Water Resource Specialists
77% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
77% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Animal Scientists
76% similar · $68,940 (−16%) · Graduate degree
- 17Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
76% similar · $90,150 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Hydrologists
76% similar · $96,600 (+17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
76% similar · $61,560 (−25%) · Training or associate
- 20Foresters
75% similar · $76,400 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than environmental scientists and specialists.
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors78% similar · $115,160 (+40%)
- Environmental Engineers77% similar · $107,110 (+30%)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers78% similar · $101,920 (+24%)
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists77% similar · $99,070 (+20%)
- Hydrologists76% similar · $96,600 (+17%)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists76% similar · $90,150 (+10%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for environmental scientists and specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where environmental scientists and specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Conservation Scientists (93)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (90)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (89)
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (89)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (87)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (85)
- Range Managers (84)
- Water Resource Specialists (84)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (83)
- Foresters (82)
Questions about jobs like environmental scientists and specialists
What jobs are most similar to environmental scientists and specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Conservation Scientists (83% similar), Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (82% similar), Soil and Plant Scientists (81% similar), Environmental Restoration Planners (80% similar) and Environmental Compliance Inspectors (80% similar).
Which jobs like environmental scientists and specialists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Health and Safety Engineers ($115,160, +40%; usually a bachelor's degree), Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +30%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) ($101,920, +24%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with environmental scientists and specialists ($82,220). Without more preparation than environmental scientists and specialists usually need: Health and Safety Engineers, Environmental Engineers and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.