Is Environmental Scientist a good career in 2026?
D
36/100 · Below Average
Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
$84K
Median pay
+35%
vs US average
7%/yr
Demand growth
65/100
Future-proof
Reasons it's worth it
- ✓Pays 35% above the US average wage ($84K vs $62K).
- ✓Relatively automation-resilient (65/100 future-proof).
- ✓In-demand skills: Environmental Assessment, GIS, Field Sampling, EPA Regulations.
Things to weigh
- !Modest demand growth (~7%/yr).
Dig into the numbers
Common questions
Is Environmental Scientist a good career in 2026?
On our data, Environmental Scientist scores 36/100 (Below Average). Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power. Median pay is $84K (35% above the US average), demand is ~7%/yr, and automation risk is 35/100.
Does Environmental Scientist pay well?
The median Environmental Scientist earns about $84K, which is 35% above the US average wage of $62K.
Will Environmental Scientist be automated by AI?
Automation risk is 35/100 (65/100 future-proof). Most of the role is hard to fully automate near-term.
Career score blends demand growth and automation risk; pay from BLS-anchored medians. A guide, not a guarantee.