Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in California is $106,500/year ($51.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $100,339 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 37.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $107K get you in California?
About geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
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What this looks like in California
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $107K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 38.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $107K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $126K spread from bottom to top.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary by metro in California
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $136K | +28% | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $136K | +28% | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $133K | +25% | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $122K | +15% | 430 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $120K | +13% | 490 |
| Fresno | $117K | +10% | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $117K | +10% | 50 |
| Redding | $112K | +5% | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $112K | +5% | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $105K | -2% | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $95K | -11% | 810 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $90K | -15% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $107K, rent takes 38.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,732/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 90% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $107K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers?
California pays $107K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in California?
The median is $106,500 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,540, and experienced geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers can clear $171,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $107K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,439/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 38.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary is worth about $100,339 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.