Prepares environmental reviews for federal projects like highways, pipelines and power lines under the National Environmental Policy Act. BLS does not publish separate figures for environmental scientists and specialists, including health; it counts them within environmental scientist and specialist, including health (SOC 19-2041), whose median pay is $82,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-2041
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
NEPA Planner in four numbers
- Median pay
- $82,220a year, or $39.53/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $53KTop 10% $140K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.1%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,30093,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202593.4K
- Projected 203599.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 93.4K Projected 2035 99.2K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school21.3%
- Some college0.8%
- Bachelor's47.5%
- Post-bacc certificate12.7%
- Master's13.8%
- Doctorate4%
Highest education held by environmental scientists and specialists, including health Segment Value High school 21.3% Some college 0.8% Bachelor's 47.5% Post-bacc certificate 12.7% Master's 13.8% Doctorate 4%
Also advertised as: NEPA Specialist, Environmental Planner, Environmental Compliance Planner, NEPA Project Manager, Environmental Impact Analyst.
Pay
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health make?
Every nepa planner in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$82,220
Middle half earn $64,490 to $107,970
- 10th
- $52,520
- 25th
- $64,490
- 75th
- $107,970
- 90th
- $140,010
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $52,520 |
| 25th | $64,490 |
| Median | $82,220 |
| 75th | $107,970 |
| 90th | $140,010 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $82,220
- Median hourly wage
- $39.53/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $91,680
- People employed
- 89,250
Versus all US occupations
At $82,220, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn 61% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $31,240 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
The median is typical for the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $140,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $52,520, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 62% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $132,620, and still leads at $120,672 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $132,620 | $120,672 | 1,270 |
| 2California | $106,510 | $96,198 | 12,490 |
| 3Rhode Island | $100,730 | $98,485 | 330 |
| 4Massachusetts | $100,640 | $95,162 | 2,930 |
| 5Washington | $98,300 | $91,858 | 4,470 |
| 6Oregon | $97,440 | $94,272 | 1,370 |
| 7Texas | $92,000 | $94,790 | 5,630 |
| 8Alaska | $91,960 | $89,841 | 860 |
| 9Utah | $90,710 | $91,752 | 1,020 |
| 10Minnesota | $88,000 | $89,230 | 2,260 |
Job outlook
Is NEPA Planner a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | +6.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health to change 6.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,300 openings are projected each year, 7.8% of the 93,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a NEPA Planner
A bachelor's degree in environmental science, planning, natural resources, biology or geography is typical, and many hold a master's in planning or environmental management. Strong technical writing is essential, along with knowledge of NEPA, agency NEPA procedures and related environmental laws, which change with new legislation and court decisions.
The National Association of Environmental Professionals offers conferences, training and an annual NEPA report, and agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration provide NEPA training. Many planners start as environmental analysts writing sections of documents before managing whole reviews. GIS and project management skills are helpful.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as environmental scientists and specialists, including health.
- Bachelor's Degree47.5%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)21.3%
- Master's Degree13.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate12.7%
- Doctoral Degree4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 47.5% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 21.3% |
| Master's Degree | 13.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 12.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a NEPA Planner do?
NEPA planners manage the environmental review that federal agencies must complete before approving, funding or permitting a major project. They scope the review, coordinate technical specialists in wildlife, wetlands, cultural resources, noise, air quality and traffic, and assemble the findings into categorical exclusions, environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.
The job is part science and part project management. Planners organize public comment periods and meetings, track consultation under the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act, and make sure the document holds up to legal review. They work for federal and state agencies such as transportation departments, or for consulting firms supporting project sponsors.
Day-to-day tasks
- Determine the level of NEPA review a project requires
- Coordinate technical studies by resource specialists
- Write and edit environmental assessments and impact statements
- Manage public scoping and comment periods
- Track endangered species and historic preservation consultations
- Respond to public and agency comments
- Maintain the administrative record for legal review
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Most work is in offices, with hybrid arrangements common. Planners attend public meetings, sometimes in the evening, and make site visits to project corridors. Schedules follow project milestones and public comment deadlines. Planners coordinate large teams of specialists, attorneys and agency staff, so much of the day is spent in meetings, reviewing drafts and tracking schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Science4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Science | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Coordination3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Instructing3.1
- Management of Personnel Resources3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a NEPA Planner?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICE) built on O*NET's Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | NEPA Planner |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative7.0
- Conventional4.9
- Realistic4.8
- Enterprising3.5
- Social2.8
- Artistic1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to NEPA Planner
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health
$82,220median a year
Most earn $53K to $140K
+6.1%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Science and Protection Technician, Including Health
$55,090median a year
Most earn $38K to $94K
+6.9%Associate's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with environmental scientists and specialists, including health highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- NEPA Planner$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| NEPA Planner | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists NEPA Planner appears on
Questions
NEPA Planner: frequently asked questions
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for environmental scientists and specialists, including health. It counts them within environmental scientist and specialist, including health, whose median pay is $82,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $64,490 and $107,970, and the top 10% earn $140,010 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a NEPA Planner?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.5% hold bachelor's degree.
Is NEPA Planner a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.1% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 7,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a NEPA Planner do?
NEPA planners manage the environmental review that federal agencies must complete before approving, funding or permitting a major project. A typical task: determine the level of NEPA review a project requires. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health the most?
The highest state medians for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health are District of Columbia ($132,620), California ($106,510), Rhode Island ($100,730) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a NEPA Planner?
O*NET scores Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.