Environmental consultants research and analyze work environments to find ways to improve the health and reduce hazards of a client's workplace or space. Environmental consultants often specialize in an area such as geology, engineering or health and safety. In May 2011, PayScale reported entry-level environmental consulting salaries were $41,360 annually, based on a survey of 4,610 professionals.
Entry-Level Salaries
Of those environmental consultants reporting their wages to PayScale's 2011 survey, approximately five percent have less than one year of experience and earn an average salary of $41,360 per year. Some environmental consultants earn hourly wages. Those with less than one year of experience earn average hourly wages of $15.11 per hour.
Additional Compensation
Along with salary, many environmental consultants earn bonuses and benefits such as paid vacation time, health care, disability and life insurance. According to the 2011 PayScale survey, the average bonus for environmental consultants with less than one year of experience is $1,977 per year. The average paid vacation time is 1.9 weeks per year for those starting in environmental consulting careers.
Experience
Environmental consultants increase their salary with professional experience. Those with one to four years of experience earn an average of $44,379 per year and those with five to nine years of experience earn an average salary of $55,319 per year. Those with over 10 years of experience earn average salaries ranging from $69,988 to $84,822 per year. All figures are from the 2011 PayScale survey.
Outlook
Overall, careers in management, scientific and technical consulting are expected to increase 83 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Environmental and safety consulting should be in demand to help organizations continue to stay compliant with environmental and safety regulations. The BLS also states management, scientific and technical consulting services are one of the highest-paying industries, offering wages approximately 33.5 percent higher than related occupations in other industries in 2008.
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