The average salary for a conservation scientist in California is around $79,810 per year.
Avg Salary
Conservation scientists earn an average yearly salary of $79,810.
Wages typically start from $53,650 and go up to $132,060.
9% above national average Updated in 2025
Conservation scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$63.49 per hour
$132,060 per year
Senior-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$50.48 per hour
$104,990 per year
Mid-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$38.37 per hour
$79,810 per year
Junior-level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$30.92 per hour
$64,310 per year
Starting level conservation scientist earnings begin at:
$25.79 per hour
$53,650 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Conservation scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,400 |
| Colorado | $84,820 |
| Maryland | $83,290 |
| Idaho | $81,330 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 |
| Oregon | $80,790 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 |
| California | $79,810 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
| Utah | $78,850 |
| Massachusetts | $78,740 |
| Washington | $78,450 |
| Virginia | $77,380 |
| North Dakota | $77,280 |
| Alabama | $77,000 |
| New York | $76,990 |
| New Mexico | $76,800 |
| Nebraska | $76,400 |
| South Dakota | $76,400 |
| Rhode Island | $76,130 |
| Maine | $75,900 |
| New Hampshire | $74,650 |
| Montana | $73,920 |
| Connecticut | $73,860 |
| Puerto Rico | $73,460 |
| Arkansas | $73,320 |
| Nevada | $73,030 |
| Kentucky | $71,980 |
| Minnesota | $71,280 |
| Oklahoma | $71,270 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 |
| Vermont | $70,130 |
| West Virginia | $69,910 |
| Illinois | $69,590 |
| Georgia | $69,240 |
| Iowa | $69,240 |
| Texas | $68,620 |
| Kansas | $67,200 |
| Arizona | $66,750 |
| Hawaii | $65,740 |
| Indiana | $64,570 |
| North Carolina | $64,460 |
| New Jersey | $64,020 |
| Delaware | $63,850 |
| Michigan | $63,500 |
| Ohio | $63,160 |
| Missouri | $63,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,480 |
| Mississippi | $59,510 |
| South Carolina | $52,310 |
| Florida | $51,130 |
How do conservation scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Conservation scientists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than forensic science technicians but more than environmental technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Forensic science technician salary | $102K |
| Cartographer salary | $103K |
| Soil and plant scientist salary | $92K |
| Food science technologist salary | $94K |
| Certified crop advisor salary | $99K |
| Conservation scientist salary | $80K |
| Soil and water conservationist salary | $80K |
| Biomass plant technician salary | $78K |
| Biotechnician salary | $71K |
| Environmental technician salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)