Ecotoxicologist

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

What a Ecotoxicologist does

Investigates how pollutants—pesticides, heavy metals, microplastics—affect wildlife populations and ecosystems, providing data that shapes environmental protection regulations.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a doctoral degree. About 8+ years of higher education.

Estimated cost of that path: ~$110,000. Estimated payback: ~7 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

• Cosmetic Chemist — $72,000/yr
• Color Scientist (Beauty) — $74,000/yr
• Zooarchaeologist — $62,000/yr
• Petrologist — $84,000/yr
• Marine Mammal Stranding Biologist — $52,000/yr