How much does a conservation scientist make in San Diego?
$78,200a year
Median yearly pay for conservation scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $37.60 an hour or $6,517 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.60
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 40 of 132
- Jobs in the area
- 150
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $54,980Median: $78,200Highest 10%: $131,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,980 | $26.43 | |
| 25th | $66,560 | $32.00 | |
| Median | $78,200 | $37.60 | |
| 75th | $94,600 | $45.48 | |
| 90th | $131,600 | $63.27 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for conservation scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $110,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $97,810 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $80,900 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,980 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,340 |
| Salinas, CA | $77,020 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $76,940 |
| Riverside, CA | $75,900 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $72,860 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a conservation scientist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $37.60 ($78,200 a year).
Do conservation scientists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $78,200 against $73,010 nationally, 7% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $79,810, so San Diego pays 2% less.
Where does San Diego rank for conservation scientist pay?
40 of 132 metro areas with data.
How much does a conservation scientist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $54,980 or less a year; the top 10% make $131,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.