Biological Scientists, All Other pay in California
$123,840avg. a year
$59.54 an hour · 11,880 employed
Biological Scientists, All Other in California earn an average of $123,840 a year. That is $17,510 (16%) more than the U.S. average of $106,330. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $148,020.
$113,530Median pay
$59.54Average hourly
+23%Avg. pay since 2020
#2Of 49 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for biological scientists, all other by metro area. Swipe to see all 20.
14,280 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$148,020
$71.16 an hour
2610 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$142,300
$68.41 an hour
390 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$122,820
$59.05 an hour
470 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$117,530
$56.51 an hour
51,960 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$116,270
$55.90 an hour
650 jobs
Salinas, CA
$110,140
$52.95 an hour
760 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$107,710
$51.78 an hour
860 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$105,810
$50.87 an hour
9220 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$105,420
$50.68 an hour
1060 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$105,290
$50.62 an hour
112,320 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$105,100
$50.53 an hour
1260 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$103,400
$49.71 an hour
13640 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$101,400
$48.75 an hour
14210 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$99,590
$47.88 an hour
1560 jobs
Modesto, CA
$98,070
$47.15 an hour
16
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$96,020
$46.16 an hour
1760 jobs
El Centro, CA
$94,840
$45.60 an hour
18110 jobs
Fresno, CA
$91,710
$44.09 an hour
1930 jobs
Redding, CA
$84,850
$40.79 an hour
2050 jobs
Chico, CA
$82,560
$39.69 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Biological Scientists, All Other pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California biological scientists, all other work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $85k$85k–$94k$94k–$105k$105k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $106,330 | $51.12 |
| California | $123,840 | $59.54 |
| Arizona | $97,370 | $46.81 |
| Oregon | $89,280 | $42.92 |
| Nevada | $77,270 | $37.15 |
Related jobs in California
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$140,120
- Biochemists and Biophysicists$148,550
- Conservation Scientists$88,030
- Microbiologists$114,790
- Food Scientists and Technologists$97,980
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$106,470
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do biological scientists, all other make in California?
The average is $123,840 a year, and the median is $113,530. That is $17,510 (16%) more than the U.S. average of $106,330.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$59.54 an hour on average; the median is $54.58.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($148,020), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($142,300). The lowest average among 20 metro areas with data is Chico, CA ($82,560).
How does California rank?
California ranks #2 of 50 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 19-1029. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national biological scientists, all other page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.