Conservation Scientist salary in California
Conservation Scientists in California earn a median of $79,810 a year ($38.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,060 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $73,010. California ranks 8th of 51 states for conservation scientists pay. There are 0.12 conservation scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $88,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for conservation scientists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,650 | $25.79 |
| 25th percentile | $64,310 | $30.92 |
| Median | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| 75th percentile | $104,990 | $50.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,060 | $63.49 |
| Average (mean) | $88,030 | $42.32 |
Half of conservation scientists 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 | $6,650.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,325.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,069.62 |
| Weekly | $1,534.81 |
| Hourly | $38.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Conservation Scientist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $110,200 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,810 | 410 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,900 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,150 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,980 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,340 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,200 | 150 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $77,280 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $77,020 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,940 | 310 |
| Fresno, CA | $76,770 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,900 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $72,860 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for conservation scientists
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| 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 |
| 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 19-1031. 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 conservation scientist make in California?
The median salary for conservation scientists in California is $79,810 a year, or $38.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid conservation scientists make in California?
The top 10% of conservation scientists in California earn at least $132,060 a year. The top 25% earn $104,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for conservation scientists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,650 a year, and a quarter of conservation scientists earn $64,310 or less.
How many conservation scientists work in California?
About 2,110 conservation scientists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.