How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for environmental scientist and specialists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $51.01 an hour or $8,842 a month.
- Hourly
- $51.01
- Vs. national median
- +29%
- Rank among cities
- 12 of 259
- Jobs in the area
- 1,140
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,120 | $31.79 | |
| 25th | $76,230 | $36.65 | |
| Median | $106,100 | $51.01 | |
| 75th | $121,300 | $58.33 | |
| 90th | $148,500 | $71.38 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for environmental scientist and specialists.
| San Francisco, CA | $127,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $110,300 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $109,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $108,400 |
| Redding, CA | $106,500 |
| San Jose, CA | $106,500 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $105,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $105,300 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $105,200 |
| Riverside, CA | $104,100 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $103,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $102,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,600 |
| Fresno, CA | $97,040 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,750 |
| Chico, CA | $91,210 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $80,640 |
| Visalia, CA | $80,360 |
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 an environmental scientist and specialist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $51.01 ($106,100 a year).
Do environmental scientist and specialists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $106,100 against $82,220 nationally, 29% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $106,500, so San Diego pays 0% more.
Where does San Diego rank for environmental scientist and specialist pay?
12 of 259 metro areas with data.
How much does an environmental scientist and specialist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $66,120 or less a year; the top 10% make $148,500 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.