Biological Scientists, All Other salary in California
Biological Scientists, All Other in California earn a median of $113,530 a year ($54.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,880 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $189,710 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $98,920. California ranks 2nd of 50 states for biological scientists, all other pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.65 biological scientists, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $123,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for biological scientists, all other in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,770 | $33.54 |
| 25th percentile | $86,090 | $41.39 |
| Median | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| 75th percentile | $154,150 | $74.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $189,710 | $91.21 |
| Average (mean) | $123,840 | $59.54 |
Half of biological scientists, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,460.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,730.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,366.54 |
| Weekly | $2,183.27 |
| Hourly | $54.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Biological Scientists, All Other salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $138,160 | 4,280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $133,790 | 610 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $124,840 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | $110,780 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $110,330 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $108,350 | 1,960 |
| Salinas, CA | $104,540 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,650 | 60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $98,400 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98,220 | 640 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $97,680 | 220 |
| Modesto, CA | $97,120 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $96,380 | 2,320 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,810 | 210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $93,550 | n/a |
| El Centro, CA | $93,260 | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $90,640 | 60 |
| Redding, CA | $84,910 | 30 |
| Fresno, CA | $81,720 | 110 |
| Chico, CA | $72,240 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for biological scientists, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $121,680 |
| California | $113,530 |
| Delaware | $113,400 |
| Connecticut | $111,940 |
| Washington | $108,110 |
| Massachusetts | $107,100 |
| Alaska | $106,870 |
| New Jersey | $104,750 |
| Maine | $104,570 |
| New York | $104,120 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $139,580 | $67.11 |
| Microbiologist | $108,530 | $52.18 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $93,950 | $45.17 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $98,530 | $47.37 |
| Conservation Scientist | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| Epidemiologist | $110,760 | $53.25 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $91,930 | $44.20 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $102,830 | $49.44 |
| Forester | $107,120 | $51.50 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1029. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological scientists, all other make in California?
The median salary for biological scientists, all other in California is $113,530 a year, or $54.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $189,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid biological scientists, all other make in California?
The top 10% of biological scientists, all other in California earn at least $189,710 a year. The top 25% earn $154,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for biological scientists, all other in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,770 a year, and a quarter of biological scientists, all other earn $86,090 or less.
How many biological scientists, all other work in California?
About 11,880 biological scientists, all other are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.