Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $86,680 +8.3% vs national
Median hourly $41.67
10th percentile $51,780
90th percentile $149,820
Employed locally 90
National median $80,060

Compare Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary & buying power

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Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,780
    25th
    $69,430
    50th (median)
    $86,680
    75th
    $106,990
    90th
    $149,820

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary vs area income 79% Median Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary is 21% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

    Metro areaMedian salary
    North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $178,960
    District of Columbia $122,440
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,240
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $109,520
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $108,310
    Monroe, MI $107,990

    Nearby metros — Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,240
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $102,420
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $101,540
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $99,750
    Napa, CA $97,620
    California $97,520

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $79,670
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $144,660
    Urban and Regional Planners $109,000
    Biological Technicians $59,200
    Biological Scientists, All Other $93,650
    Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $129,880

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Santa Cruz, CA is $41.67, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $77.84 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salaries?

    The median Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 8.3% above the national median of $80,060. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (10th percentile) earn around $51,780 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $69,430.