Quick answer:Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in California earn a median $106,510 per year, above the national median of $82,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 12,490 of them. Licensing runs through your state environmental agency.
Environmental Science Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$106,510
$82,220
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$65,350
$52,520
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$81,480
$64,490
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$132,770
$107,970
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$161,910
$140,010
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
12,490
89,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.19
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
4.4%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $106,510 sits above the national median of $82,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.19 puts California well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Environmental science work follows consulting firms, state and federal agencies, utilities and industrial compliance departments, so regulated industry and agency presence drive the local market
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), environmental scientists and specialists, including health wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
3,520
$108,430
$113,580
$70,860
$161,240
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
2,520
$105,340
$107,900
$60,350
$161,970
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
1,320
$127,210
$127,420
$76,490
$179,470
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
1,140
$106,100
$110,660
$66,120
$148,470
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
670
$104,110
$103,360
$62,250
$146,980
Fresno
380
$97,040
$97,350
$56,900
$142,480
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
340
$106,510
$124,260
$74,310
$187,070
Bakersfield-Delano
220
$80,640
$89,900
$46,500
$143,330
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
210
$105,810
$104,150
$68,520
$142,560
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
190
$109,710
$113,580
$75,150
$165,430
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
170
$110,260
$107,100
$62,250
$156,760
Stockton-Lodi
160
$102,850
$101,400
$62,250
$143,590
Redding
130
$106,510
$107,380
$65,370
$152,910
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
130
$105,230
$106,330
$66,690
$147,410
Vallejo
110
$95,750
$102,040
$62,670
$153,690
Salinas
90
$101,560
$105,660
$65,350
$159,560
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
90
$103,610
$110,350
$67,930
$161,910
Chico
60
$91,210
$102,950
$67,430
$156,760
Yuba City
60
$106,510
$97,830
$62,530
$126,450
Visalia
50
$80,360
$90,170
$65,860
$132,770
El Centro
40
$95,630
$95,660
$72,330
$116,400
Modesto
40
$103,840
$111,020
$67,200
$156,410
Napa
40
$109,710
$114,860
$78,780
$160,330
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
No general state licence gates environmental science the way the PE does for engineering. Specific activities carry their own state certifications - certain site assessments, asbestos and lead work among them - so the requirement depends on the work rather than the title.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state environmental agency that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 103 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists make in California?
The median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists in California is $106,510, above the national median of $82,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $81,480 at the 25th percentile to $132,770 at the 75th.
How many environmental scientists and specialists work in California?
California holds about 12,490 environmental scientist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 89,250, and BLS projects about 8,500 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a environmental scientist in California?
No general state licence gates environmental science the way the PE does for engineering. Specific activities carry their own state certifications - certain site assessments, asbestos and lead work among them - so the requirement depends on the work rather than the title. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state environmental agency before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a environmental science bachelor's online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state environmental agency.
What is the highest-paying area of California for environmental scientists and specialists?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Francisco reports the highest median at $127,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for environmental scientists and specialists?
On pay, the state median of $106,510 sits above the national $82,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.19 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
