SOC 25-1053 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary — California
California · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $108,290 a year, ahead of the national median of $94,980 by 14.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $108,290 a year, ahead of the national median of $94,980 by 14.0%. Pay ranges from under $65,250 at the tenth percentile to more than $168,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $78,070 to $135,790.
Employment stands at 300, or 0.0 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 6th out of 38 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Sacramento records the highest median at $101,840. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 171st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,250 | −31.3% |
| 25th | $78,070 | −17.8% |
| Median (50th) | $108,290 | +14.0% |
| 75th | $135,790 | +43.0% |
| 90th | $168,810 | +77.7% |
| Mean | $116,410 | +22.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento | $101,840 | 70 | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $95,360 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $108,290 buys what $97,823 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$108,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$97,823US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $108,290 a year, 14.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,250 to $168,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 300 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 38 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sacramento, at $101,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary in California?
The median annual wage is $108,290, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $94,980, so pay in California is 14.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $168,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,250 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Sacramento, at $101,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 300 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data