How to Become a Environmental Scientist in Hawaii: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Hawaii environmental scientists and specialists, including health earn a median annual wage of $79,510 ($38.23/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 670 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.3% below the national median of $82,220 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $79,510 ($38.23/hr)
25th percentile: $60,650 per year
75th percentile: $92,620 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $111,700 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $53,500 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 670
Versus national median: -3.3% below the U.S. median of $82,220
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.85 - this occupation is more concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median environmental scientist salary in Hawaii is $79,510 per year - 3% below the national median of $82,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in environmental science, chemistry, or geology.

How to Become a Environmental Scientist in Hawaii

1. Start or continue as a technician

Sampling and field-tech experience counts heavily at consulting firms.

2. Earn the bachelor’s degree

Environmental science, chemistry, or geology - online programs fit field schedules.

3. Move to staff scientist

Phase I/II site assessments and remediation projects are the core work.

4. Add role certifications

OSHA HAZWOPER, asbestos/lead assessor, or stormwater credentials by specialty.

5. Advance

Project manager, then program or office leadership.

Requirements in Hawaii

The education path is national - Bachelor’s in environmental science, chemistry, or geology. There is no occupational license for environmental scientists in most states, including Hawaii. certifications (e.g., asbestos/lead assessor) role-specific. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications before you enroll, as details change.

Environmental Scientist Salary in Hawaii

Wage level	Annual salary
Hawaii entry level (10th percentile)	$53,500
Hawaii 25th-75th percentile	$60,650 - $92,620
Hawaii median	$79,510
Hawaii top earners (90th percentile)	$111,700
U.S. median	$82,220

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 670.

The Hawaii Job Market: Environmental Scientist

Metric	Value
Employed in Hawaii	670
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	1.06
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	1.85
Mean annual wage in Hawaii	$80,720

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.85, Hawaii employs environmental scientists at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile, United States - Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$52,520
25th	$64,490
50th (median)	$82,220
75th	$107,970
90th	$140,010

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, United States, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	90,300
2034 projected	94,300
Percent change	+4.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a environmental scientist make in Hawaii?

The median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in Hawaii is $79,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the national median of $82,220.

How to become a environmental scientist in Hawaii?

The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in environmental science, chemistry, or geology. There is no occupational license for environmental scientists in most states, including Hawaii. certifications (e.g., asbestos/lead assessor) role-specific. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications. See the steps on this page.

How many environmental scientists work in Hawaii?

BLS counts about 670 environmental scientists and specialists, including health employed in Hawaii (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Environmental Scientist in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041), Hawaii and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)