Ecologist Average Salary in Pennsylvania 2024
How much money does a person working as Ecologist make in Pennsylvania?
LOW
85,500
USD AVERAGE
175,000
USD HIGH
272,000
USD
A person working as Ecologist in Pennsylvania typically earns around 175,000 USD. Salaries range from 85,500 USD (lowest) to 272,000 USD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Ecologist salaries in Pennsylvania vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Ecologist Pay Scale and Salaries in Pennsylvania
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
162,000 USD or more
143,000 to 162,000 USD
101,000 USD or less
101,000 to 143,000 USD
 85,500 USD |
163,000 USD |
272,000 USD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Ecologist in Pennsylvania range from 85,500 USD (starting salary) to 272,000 USD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 163,000 USD, half of the professionals who work as Ecologist in Pennsylvania earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Ecologist in Pennsylvania earn less than 133,000 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 186,000 USD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Ecologist in Pennsylvania compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 101,000 USD to 143,000 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 101,000 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 143,000 USD to 162,000 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 162,000 USD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Ecologist / Pennsylvania
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 101,000 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +29% | 130,000 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +38% | 180,000 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +24% | 223,000 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +7% | 239,000 USD |
| 20+ Years | +7% | 255,000 USD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Ecologist and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 101,000 USD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 130,000 USD, 29% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 180,000 USD, 38% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 223,000 USD, 24% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 239,000 USD, 7% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 255,000 USD, 7% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Ecologist / Pennsylvania
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Ecologist.
| Bachelor's Degree | 119,000 USD | |
| Master's Degree | +38% | 164,000 USD |
| PhD | +64% | 269,000 USD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Ecologist in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: Bachelor's Degree
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 119,000 USD.
Level 2: Master's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 164,000 USD, 38% more than the previous level.
Level 3: PhD
At this level, the average salary becomes 269,000 USD, 64% more than the previous level.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in United States costs anywhere from 39,600 USD to 119,000 USD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support the theory. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Ecologist / Pennsylvania
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Ecologist in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.
| Male | 154,000 USD | |
| Female | -5% | 147,000 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Ecologist / Pennsylvania
How much are annual salary increments in Pennsylvania for individuals working as Ecologist? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Ecologist in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Ecologist / United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Ecologist / Pennsylvania
84 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Ecologist in Pennsylvania is 84 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Ecologist in Pennsylvania is 41 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Science and Technical Services |  -100% | |
| 3D Lab Technologist | 106,000 USD | -39% |
| 3D Printing Specialist | 100,000 USD | -43% |
| Algorithm Developer | 137,000 USD | -22% |
| Analytical Chemist | 203,000 USD |  +16% |
| Anthropologist | 148,000 USD | -15% |
| Archeologist | 133,000 USD | -24% |
| Assistant Breeder | 69,600 USD | -60% |
| Astronomer | 233,000 USD | +33% |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | 193,000 USD | +11% |
| Behavior Analyst | 129,000 USD | -26% |
| Behavior Intervention Specialist | 143,000 USD | -18% |
| Behavior Specialist | 134,000 USD | -23% |
| Biochemist | 226,000 USD | +29% |
| Biofuels Processing Technician | 88,800 USD | -49% |
| Biofuels Production Manager | 158,000 USD | -9% |
| Biologist | 232,000 USD | +33% |
| Biomedical Laboratory Officer | 83,500 USD | -52% |
| Biomedical Scientist | 226,000 USD | +29% |
| Biophysicist | 213,000 USD | +22% |
| Chemical Engineer | 110,000 USD | -37% |
| Chemical Technologist | 103,000 USD | -41% |
| Chemist | 219,000 USD | +25% |
| Chief Robotics Integration Officer | 156,000 USD | -11% |
| Chief Technologist | 185,000 USD | +6% |
| Climate Change Analyst | 150,000 USD | -14% |
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | 220,000 USD | +26% |
| Computer Scientist | 179,000 USD | +3% |
| Conservation Scientist | 186,000 USD | +7% |
| Data Science Specialist | 142,000 USD | -19% |
| Data Scientist | 164,000 USD | -6% |
| DNA Analyst | 218,000 USD | +25% |
| Ecologist | 175,000 USD | +0% |
| Economic Development Specialist | 177,000 USD | +1% |
| Flavourist | 73,200 USD | -58% |
| Food Scientist | 138,000 USD | -21% |
| Forensic Scientist | 174,000 USD | -0% |
| Formulation Technologist | 84,000 USD | -52% |
| Fraud Investigator | 106,000 USD | -39% |
| Genomics Scientist | 226,000 USD | +29% |
| Geographer | 115,000 USD | -34% |
| Geographic Information Systems Technician | 74,000 USD | -58% |
| Geological Data Technician | 74,000 USD | -58% |
| Geological Technician | 94,600 USD | -46% |
| Geologist | 194,000 USD | +11% |
| Geomatics Scientist | 187,000 USD | +7% |
| Geophysical Data Technician | 70,800 USD | -59% |
| Geospatial Information Scientist and Technologist | 166,000 USD | -5% |
| Global Technical Lead | 222,000 USD | +27% |
| Hydrologist | 144,000 USD | -17% |
| Industrial Ecologist | 157,000 USD | -10% |
| Intelligence Analyst | 131,000 USD | -25% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Architect | 117,000 USD | -33% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Compliance Analyst | 122,000 USD | -30% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Consultant | 131,000 USD | -25% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Engineer | 110,000 USD | -37% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Integration Specialist | 119,000 USD | -32% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Logistics Analyst | 96,400 USD | -45% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Security Analyst | 100,000 USD | -43% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Specialist | 103,000 USD | -41% |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Technician | 79,400 USD | -55% |
| Knowledge Management Specialist | 115,000 USD | -34% |
| Lab Analyst | 93,600 USD | -46% |
| Lab Manager | 162,000 USD | -7% |
| Lab Technician | 65,100 USD | -63% |
| Laboratory Manager | 161,000 USD | -8% |
| Laboratory Researcher | 98,700 USD | -43% |
| Laboratory Technician | 69,100 USD | -60% |
| Life Sciences Analyst | 151,000 USD | -13% |
| Life Scientist | 166,000 USD | -5% |
| Marine Architect | 138,000 USD | -21% |
| Marine Biologist | 156,000 USD | -11% |
| Marine Superintendent | 91,400 USD | -48% |
| Materials Analyst | 96,400 USD | -45% |
| Materials Scientist | 160,000 USD | -8% |
| Mathematician | 170,000 USD | -3% |
| Medical Scientist | 226,000 USD | +29% |
| Metallurgist | 156,000 USD | -11% |
| Meteorologist | 157,000 USD | -10% |
| Microbiologist | 231,000 USD | +32% |
| Natural Language Processing Researcher | 141,000 USD | -19% |
| Natural Resource Specialist | 129,000 USD | -26% |
| Natural Resources Analyst | 140,000 USD | -20% |
| Natural Sciences Manager | 218,000 USD | +25% |
| Neurotechnology Specialist | 200,000 USD | +15% |
| Nuclear Engineer | 237,000 USD | +36% |
| Physical Scientist | 182,000 USD | +4% |
| Physicist | 219,000 USD | +25% |
| Political Scientist | 176,000 USD | +1% |
| Polygraph Examiner | 62,300 USD | -64% |
| Polysomnographic Technologist | 107,000 USD | -39% |
| Product Development Scientist | 179,000 USD | +3% |
| Quantitative Research Analyst | 156,000 USD | -11% |
| Quantitative Researcher | 156,000 USD | -11% |
| Quantum Algorithm Developer | 126,000 USD | -28% |
| Quantum Computing Engineer | 114,000 USD | -35% |
| Quantum Computing Ethics Officer | 109,000 USD | -38% |
| Quantum Computing Specialist | 125,000 USD | -28% |
| Radiation Protection Specialist | 127,000 USD | -27% |
| Refrigeration Technician | 53,000 USD | -70% |
| Research Scientist | 161,000 USD | -8% |
| Risk Safety Engineer | 96,900 USD | -44% |
| Robotics Architect | 127,000 USD | -27% |
| Scientific Photographer | 103,000 USD | -41% |
| Scientific Programmer | 133,000 USD | -24% |
| Scientist | 167,000 USD | -4% |
| Service Engineer | 102,000 USD | -42% |
| Service Technician | 64,500 USD | -63% |
| Social Science Research Assistant | 94,600 USD | -46% |
| Social Scientist | 176,000 USD | +1% |
| Sociologist | 170,000 USD | -3% |
| Soil Scientist | 144,000 USD | -17% |
| Statistical Analyst | 95,600 USD | -45% |
| Statistical Assistant | 70,100 USD | -60% |
| Statistician | 155,000 USD | -11% |
| Survey Analyst | 96,400 USD | -45% |
| Survey Researcher | 90,100 USD | -48% |
| Surveying and Mapping Technician | 61,700 USD | -65% |
| Team Leader | 143,000 USD | -18% |
| Technical Manager | 147,000 USD | -16% |
| Technical Officer | 68,700 USD | -61% |
| Technical Service Director | 207,000 USD | +19% |
| Technical Services Regulatory Affairs Specialist | 103,000 USD | -41% |
| Technical Services Research and Development Manager | 230,000 USD | +32% |
| Technical Services Research Associate | 109,000 USD | -38% |
| Technical Services Research Coordinator | 114,000 USD | -35% |
| Technician | 66,500 USD | -62% |
| Water Ecologist | 185,000 USD | +6% |
| Wearable Technology Developer | 115,000 USD | -34% |
| Wearables Specialist | 98,800 USD | -43% |
| Wildlife Biologist | 156,000 USD | -11% |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 92,800 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,500 USD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Ecologist in Pennsylvania?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 163,000 USD and 186,000 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Ecologist in Pennsylvania ranges from 85,500 USD to 133,000 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
