Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $238,380 or more. The middle half of atmospheric and space scientists in San Francisco earn between $137,600 and $170,610.
- $91K10th
- $138K25th
- $151KMedian
- $171K75th
- $238K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,020 | $13,668 | $78.86 |
| Median | $151,000 | $12,583 | $72.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $137,600 | $11,467 | $66.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $170,610 | $14,218 | $82.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Atmospheric and space scientists in San Francisco earn 29% more than the California average ($127,330) and 55% more than the U.S. average ($106,110). At the median the gap is +52% against the U.S. median of $99,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $164,020 | $151,000 | $91,040 | $238,380 | 30 |
| California | $127,330 | $124,920 | $82,900 | $175,900 | 510 |
| United States | $106,110 | $99,070 | $53,060 | $161,890 | 10,000 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $164,020, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $112,212 a year, or $9,351 a month and $4,316 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for atmospheric and space scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $164,020 buys what about $141,870 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 3 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$164,020
- Los Angeles$118,740
- San Diego$117,470
Highest-paying cities for atmospheric and space scientists
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,890).
- Chicago, IL$182,890
- New York, NY$172,010
- San Francisco, CA$164,020
- Albany, NY$130,860
- Indianapolis, IN$130,690
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make an hour in San Francisco?
$78.86 an hour on average, and $72.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level atmospheric and space scientists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $137,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the atmospheric and space scientists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $112,212 a year ($9,351 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,020. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do atmospheric and space scientists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 55% more than the U.S. average for this job ($106,110).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2021; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.22, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.22).
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