Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in California
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers in California earn a median of $106,500 a year ($51.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,270 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $101,920. California ranks 9th of 50 states for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers pay. There are 0.18 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $108,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,540 | $21.89 |
| 25th percentile | $73,850 | $35.51 |
| Median | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| 75th percentile | $138,120 | $66.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,270 | $82.34 |
| Average (mean) | $108,910 | $52.36 |
Half of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,437.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,096.15 |
| Weekly | $2,048.08 |
| Hourly | $51.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $106,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,120 | 170 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $136,120 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $132,790 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $122,310 | 430 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $119,950 | 490 |
| Fresno, CA | $117,420 | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $117,420 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $111,830 | 90 |
| Redding, CA | $111,830 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $104,760 | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,660 | 810 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $90,270 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Texas | $145,220 |
| Rhode Island | $121,010 |
| Oklahoma | $119,990 |
| Colorado | $114,410 |
| Mississippi | $112,400 |
| Maryland | $110,510 |
| Massachusetts | $108,210 |
| Alaska | $107,410 |
| California | $106,500 |
| Hawaii | $106,270 |
See Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Chemist | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Physicist | $207,490 | $99.75 |
| 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 19-2042. 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in California?
The median salary for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in California is $106,500 a year, or $51.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in California?
The top 10% of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in California earn at least $171,270 a year. The top 25% earn $138,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,540 a year, and a quarter of geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers earn $73,850 or less.
How many geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers work in California?
About 3,350 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.