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Best States to Be a Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a environmental science and protection technicians, including health salary goes furthest in Nebraska — a $66,240 BLS median worth $70,910 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 129.5).
Which US states are best for a environmental science and protection technicians, including health after cost of living and tax?
For a environmental science and protection technicians, including health, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Nebraska #1: a $66,240 BLS median becomes $70,910 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 129.5). Mississippi ranks last ($39,418, index 72.0). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 49 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Nebraska ranks #1 of 49 states for a environmental science and protection technicians, including health. Index 100 = the average state; 129.5 means pay goes 29.5% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $66,240 | $2,348 | 90.1 | $70,910 | 129.5 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $61,430 | — | 89.0 | $69,054 | 126.1 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $62,330 | $1,816 | 92.2 | $65,625 | 119.9 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $65,320 | $2,953 | 98.6 | $63,239 | 115.5 |
| 5 | Washington | $67,160 | — | 107.0 | $62,759 | 114.6 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $56,960 | — | 91.9 | $62,001 | 113.3 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $66,120 | $2,062 | 103.6 | $61,826 | 112.9 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $64,830 | $1,831 | 102.3 | $61,595 | 112.5 |
| 9 | Montana | $60,550 | $2,434 | 94.6 | $61,404 | 112.2 |
| 10 | Nevada | $60,370 | — | 100.0 | $60,383 | 110.3 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $60,650 | $1,862 | 97.6 | $60,251 | 110.1 |
| 12 | Ohio | $56,070 | $760 | 92.8 | $59,618 | 108.9 |
| 13 | Colorado | $60,930 | $2,021 | 103.1 | $57,164 | 104.4 |
| 14 | Illinois | $59,930 | $2,825 | 100.0 | $57,129 | 104.4 |
| 15 | Iowa | $52,020 | $1,937 | 87.8 | $57,067 | 104.2 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $52,590 | $1,636 | 89.5 | $56,934 | 104.0 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $55,290 | $1,778 | 94.1 | $56,870 | 103.9 |
| 18 | Arizona | $57,800 | $970 | 100.7 | $56,448 | 103.1 |
| 19 | Utah | $58,240 | $2,650 | 98.9 | $56,229 | 102.7 |
| 20 | Idaho | $55,420 | $2,036 | 95.5 | $55,903 | 102.1 |
| 21 | New York | $62,400 | $2,827 | 107.9 | $55,201 | 100.8 |
| 22 | Vermont | $55,090 | $1,427 | 98.0 | $54,782 | 100.1 |
| 23 | Alaska | $55,220 | — | 102.4 | $53,947 | 98.5 |
| 24 | Missouri | $50,340 | $1,485 | 90.8 | $53,795 | 98.3 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $48,390 | $1,679 | 86.9 | $53,730 | 98.1 |
| 26 | California | $61,220 | $1,769 | 110.7 | $53,695 | 98.1 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $59,330 | $2,747 | 105.8 | $53,503 | 97.7 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $49,440 | — | 92.7 | $53,339 | 97.4 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $51,630 | $1,652 | 94.3 | $52,984 | 96.8 |
| 30 | Oregon | $58,950 | $4,354 | 103.4 | $52,821 | 96.5 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $48,090 | $1,747 | 87.8 | $52,757 | 96.4 |
| 32 | Texas | $50,710 | — | 97.1 | $52,248 | 95.4 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $54,080 | — | 104.2 | $51,918 | 94.8 |
| 34 | Maine | $51,820 | $1,883 | 97.0 | $51,455 | 94.0 |
| 35 | Michigan | $51,290 | $1,933 | 96.2 | $51,297 | 93.7 |
| 36 | Kansas | $47,880 | $1,872 | 90.1 | $51,081 | 93.3 |
| 37 | Indiana | $49,020 | $1,441 | 93.3 | $50,980 | 93.1 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $48,700 | $1,412 | 93.7 | $50,441 | 92.1 |
| 39 | Maryland | $55,090 | $2,284 | 105.0 | $50,311 | 91.9 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $46,840 | $1,743 | 90.2 | $50,020 | 91.4 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $44,180 | — | 88.6 | $49,872 | 91.1 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $57,010 | $2,803 | 110.0 | $49,301 | 90.1 |
| 43 | Alabama | $45,000 | $1,985 | 88.8 | $48,428 | 88.5 |
| 44 | Georgia | $48,050 | $1,943 | 96.3 | $47,882 | 87.5 |
| 45 | Florida | $48,840 | — | 103.4 | $47,228 | 86.3 |
| 46 | Virginia | $49,430 | $2,043 | 101.1 | $46,870 | 85.6 |
| 47 | New Jersey | $52,190 | $1,336 | 108.8 | $46,739 | 85.4 |
| 48 | Delaware | $45,720 | $1,861 | 99.8 | $43,944 | 80.3 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $35,010 | $735 | 87.0 | $39,418 | 72.0 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 49 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Nebraska, a $66,240 salary is worth about $69,693 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $3,444 (≈ top marginal 5.20% (upper bound)) · take-home $62,796 · BEA cost of living 90.1 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $74,775, a $5,082 gain over Nebraska.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $74,775 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $73,222 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $72,843 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $72,827 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $72,609 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $72,600 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $72,102 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $71,825 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $71,463 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $70,847 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $70,531 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $70,446 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a environmental science and protection technicians, including health?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Nebraska is the best state for a environmental science and protection technicians, including health: a BLS median of $66,240 is worth $70,910 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,348) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 90.1), an index of 129.5 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Washington has the highest headline BLS median for a environmental science and protection technicians, including health at $67,160, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #5 of 49 on real pay (index 114.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a environmental science and protection technicians, including health salary go least far?
- Mississippi ranks last of 49 states for a environmental science and protection technicians, including health: a $35,010 BLS median is worth only $39,418 after tax and cost of living (index 72.0). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a environmental science and protection technicians, including health is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.