Conservation Scientists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $182,250 or more. The middle half of conservation scientists in Santa Cruz earn between $69,010 and $115,890.
- $53K10th
- $69K25th
- $73KMedian
- $116K75th
- $182K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,480 | $8,040 | $46.38 |
| Median | $72,860 | $6,072 | $35.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,010 | $5,751 | $33.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,890 | $9,658 | $55.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Conservation Scientists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Conservation scientists in Santa Cruz earn 10% more than the California average ($88,030) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($77,130). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $73,010.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $96,480 | $72,860 | $52,950 | $182,250 | 50 |
| California | $88,030 | $79,810 | $53,650 | $132,060 | 2,110 |
| United States | $77,130 | $73,010 | $47,550 | $110,410 | 25,950 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Conservation Scientists salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $96,480, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $71,823 a year, or $5,985 a month and $2,762 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 Santa Cruz a good place for conservation scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $96,480 buys what about $87,792 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 12.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Conservation Scientists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($118,820).
- San Jose$118,820
- San Francisco$99,130
- Santa Cruz$96,480
- Sacramento$92,500
- Salinas$88,500
- Santa Maria$88,130
- San Diego$85,940
- Santa Rosa$85,840
- Oxnard$85,140
- Riverside$80,140
Highest-paying cities for conservation scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,820).
- San Jose, CA$118,820
- Washington, DC$108,770
- Springfield, IL$105,360
- Amherst, MA$99,360
- San Francisco, CA$99,130
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Conservation Scientists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do conservation scientists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$46.39 an hour on average, and $35.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level conservation scientists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the conservation scientists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $71,823 a year ($5,985 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,480. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do conservation scientists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,130).
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 19-1031; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 3.32, this job is 3.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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