Conservation Scientist salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Conservation Scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $78,200 a year ($37.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,600 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $73,010. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $79,810. There are 0.10 conservation scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $85,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for conservation scientists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,980 | $26.43 |
| 25th percentile | $66,560 | $32.00 |
| Median | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| 75th percentile | $94,600 | $45.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,600 | $63.27 |
| Average (mean) | $85,940 | $41.32 |
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 | $6,516.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,258.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,007.69 |
| Weekly | $1,503.85 |
| Hourly | $37.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Conservation Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 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
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,400 |
| Colorado | $84,820 |
| Maryland | $83,290 |
| Idaho | $81,330 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 |
| Oregon | $80,790 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 |
| California | $79,810 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
See Conservation Scientist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,350 | $52.09 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $121,740 | $58.53 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 | $52.36 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $93,500 | $44.95 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,320 | $60.25 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $86,330 | $41.51 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $85,930 | $41.31 |
| Forester | $93,340 | $44.88 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Biological Technician | $67,060 | $32.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,230 | $48.67 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for conservation scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $78,200 a year, or $37.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid conservation scientists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of conservation scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $131,600 a year. The top 25% earn $94,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for conservation scientists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,980 a year, and a quarter of conservation scientists earn $66,560 or less.
How many conservation scientists work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 150 conservation scientists are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.