Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

19-2041 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Occupational Description:
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources. Excludes “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists" (19-1023), "Conservation Scientists" (19-1031), "Forest and Conservation Technicians" (19-4093), "Fish and Game Wardens" (33-3031), and "Forest and Conservation Workers" (45-4011).

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2025

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Southeast Minnesota	90	15	$39.45/hr	$24.54/hr	$31.15/hr	$39.61/hr	$45.66/hr	$51.49/hr

Leading Industries for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining	N/A	N/A
Construction	N/A	N/A
Manufacturing	50	$62.84/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	40	$52.98/hr
Professional and Business Services	500	$34.55/hr
Education and Health Services	90	$36.48/hr
Leisure and Hospitality	N/A	N/A
Other Services	120	$44.45/hr
Public Administration	1,180	$44.13/hr

Other Regional Data for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	20	$41.91/hr	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	30	$35.07/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	30	$41.48/hr	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	40	$36.64/hr	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	40	$41.66/hr	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	40	$45.66/hr	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	50	$39.61/hr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	50	$35.80/hr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	80	$39.61/hr	N/A
Central Minnesota	90	$42.45/hr	8.0%
Southeast Minnesota	90	$39.61/hr	5.7%
Southwest Minnesota	110	$39.20/hr	5.1%
Northwest Balance of State	140	$36.74/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	150	$36.74/hr	7.1%
Duluth MN-WI MSA	190	$37.73/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	210	$38.18/hr	5.8%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	1,280	$45.66/hr	7.3%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	1,350	$44.45/hr	N/A
Minnesota	1,980	$42.53/hr	7.2%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Natural Sciences Managers	1,470	$63.84/hr	7.1%
Managers, All Other	4,640	$77.09/hr	3.1%
Atmospheric and Space Scientists	70	N/A	3.1%

Task for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
Provide analytical support for policy briefs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or climate change.
Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
Translate the theories of industrial ecology into eco-industrial practices.
Communicate findings of environmental studies or proposals for environmental remediation to other restoration professionals.
Supervise and provide technical guidance, training, or assistance to employees working in the field to restore habitats.
Create diagrams to communicate environmental remediation planning, using geographic information systems (GIS), computer-aided design (CAD), or other mapping or diagramming software.
Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.