Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary in California
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in California earn a median of $106,510 a year ($51.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,910 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $82,220. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for environmental scientists and specialists, including health pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.69 environmental scientists and specialists, including health per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $112,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,350 | $31.42 |
| 25th percentile | $81,480 | $39.17 |
| Median | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| 75th percentile | $132,770 | $63.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,910 | $77.84 |
| Average (mean) | $112,360 | $54.02 |
Half of environmental scientists and specialists, including health 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 | $8,875.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,437.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,096.54 |
| Weekly | $2,048.27 |
| Hourly | $51.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $106,510 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,210 | 1,320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $110,260 | 170 |
| Napa, CA | $109,710 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $109,710 | 190 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $108,430 | 3,520 |
| Redding, CA | $106,510 | 130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,510 | 340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $106,510 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $106,100 | 1,140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $105,810 | 210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,340 | 2,520 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $105,230 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $104,110 | 670 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,840 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $103,610 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,850 | 160 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,560 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $97,040 | 380 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,750 | 110 |
| El Centro, CA | $95,630 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $91,210 | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $80,640 | 220 |
| Visalia, CA | $80,360 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for environmental scientists and specialists, including health
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $132,620 |
| California | $106,510 |
| Rhode Island | $100,730 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 |
| Washington | $98,300 |
| Oregon | $97,440 |
| Texas | $92,000 |
| Alaska | $91,960 |
| Utah | $90,710 |
| Minnesota | $88,000 |
See Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Physicist | $207,490 | $99.75 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $130,610 | $62.79 |
| Materials Scientist | $177,030 | $85.11 |
| Hydrologist | $122,110 | $58.71 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $124,920 | $60.06 |
| Astronomer | $123,540 | $59.39 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Biological Technician | $71,440 | $34.34 |
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 19-2041. 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 environmental scientists and specialists, including health make in California?
The median salary for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in California is $106,510 a year, or $51.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental scientists and specialists, including health make in California?
The top 10% of environmental scientists and specialists, including health in California earn at least $161,910 a year. The top 25% earn $132,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,350 a year, and a quarter of environmental scientists and specialists, including health earn $81,480 or less.
How many environmental scientists and specialists, including health work in California?
About 12,490 environmental scientists and specialists, including health are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.