Conservation Scientist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Conservation Scientists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $72,860 a year ($35.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $182,250 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $73,010. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $79,810. There are 0.55 conservation scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for conservation scientists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| 25th percentile | $69,010 | $33.18 |
| Median | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| 75th percentile | $115,890 | $55.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $182,250 | $87.62 |
| Average (mean) | $96,480 | $46.39 |
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 | $6,071.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,035.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,802.31 |
| Weekly | $1,401.15 |
| Hourly | $35.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 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 |
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,400 | $47.31 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $122,170 | $58.74 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $112,270 | $53.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $103,610 | $49.81 |
| Chemist | $95,840 | $46.08 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $106,430 | $51.17 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Biological Technician | $66,240 | $31.84 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $66,040 | $31.75 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for conservation scientists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $72,860 a year, or $35.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $182,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid conservation scientists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of conservation scientists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $182,250 a year. The top 25% earn $115,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for conservation scientists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,950 a year, and a quarter of conservation scientists earn $69,010 or less.
How many conservation scientists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 conservation scientists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.