How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make in California?
$106,500a year
Median yearly pay for environmental scientist and specialists in California. That is $51.21 an hour or $8,876 a month.
- Hourly
- $51.21
- Vs. national median
- +30%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 12,490
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $65,350Median: $106,500Highest 10%: $161,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,350 | $31.42 | |
| 25th | $81,480 | $39.17 | |
| Median | $106,500 | $51.21 | |
| 75th | $132,800 | $63.83 | |
| 90th | $161,900 | $77.84 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $127,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $110,300 |
| Napa, CA | $109,700 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $109,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $108,400 |
| Redding, CA | $106,500 |
| San Jose, CA | $106,500 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $106,100 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $105,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $105,300 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $105,200 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,100 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,800 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $103,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $102,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,600 |
| Fresno, CA | $97,040 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,750 |
| El Centro, CA | $95,630 |
| Chico, CA | $91,210 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $80,640 |
| Visalia, CA | $80,360 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for environmental scientist and specialists.
| 1. District of Columbia | $132,600 |
| 2. California | $106,500 |
| 3. Rhode Island | $100,700 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $100,600 |
| 5. Washington | $98,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $51.21 ($106,500 a year).
Do environmental scientist and specialists make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $106,500 against $82,220 nationally, 30% more.
Where does California rank for environmental scientist and specialist pay?
California ranks 2 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays environmental scientist and specialists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $127,200 a year.
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.