Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California atmospheric and space scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $105,910 and $144,910, with a median of $124,920.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 41 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $110,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 10 | $121,542 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $113,568 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | Assistant Project Scientist | 10 | $102,100 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Assistant Researcher | 6 | $87,715 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | Postdoctoral Research Staff | 5 | $128,916 |
| Universities Space Research Association | Scientist, Earth Sciences | 4 | $113,568 |
| Bay Area Environmental Research Institute | Research Scientist | 3 | $122,000 |
| California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory | Scientist | 2 | $142,012 |
| University of California, Davis | Assistant Project Scientist | 2 | $85,904 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE | ASSOCIATE SPECIALIST | 2 | $75,463 |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | Post Doctorate Research Associate (Atmospheric Scientist) | 1 | $94,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | Staff Scientist | 1 | $90,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Scientist at Bay Area Environmental Research Institute$122,000Moffett FieldWage Level IIIDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26049-647074
- Assistant Project Scientist at University of California, Davis$80,800DavisDecided Jan 9, 2026I-200-26002-530829
- Associate Project Scientist at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO$119,800La JollaDecided Jan 2, 2026I-200-25357-507735
- Assistant Scientist at UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI$114,421LafayetteDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491189
- Research Scientist at Bay Area Environmental Research Institute$130,000Moffett FieldWage Level IIIDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-441263
- Assistant Project Scientist at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO$90,700La JollaDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-430388
- Postdoctoral Scholar at University of California, Los Angeles$71,632Los AngelesDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-429899
- Assistant Project Scientist at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO$103,100La JollaDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-389297
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 32 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist, Earth Sciences at a median of $113,568.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist, Earth Sciences | Universities Space Research Association | 7 | $113,568 |
| Assistant Project Scientist | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | 6 | $96,054 |
| Postdoctoral Research Staff | Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | 5 | $128,916 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | University of California, Los Angeles | 4 | $73,029 |
| Research Scientist | Bay Area Environmental Research Institute | 4 | $126,000 |
| Research Data Analyst P3 | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | 3 | $110,000 |
| Assistant Researcher | University of California, Los Angeles | 3 | $99,100 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 41 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $94,859.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO | 26 | $94,859 |
| Professional services | Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | 15 | $123,360 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.4 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Geography
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
- 02
Gather data from sources such as surface or upper air stations, satellites, weather bureaus, or radar for use in meteorological reports or forecasts.
- 03
Measure wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere, using weather balloons.
- 04
Prepare weather reports or maps for analysis, distribution, or use in weather broadcasts, using computer graphics.
- 05
Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
- 06
Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
- 07
Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
- 08
Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+1.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for atmospheric and space scientists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$151,000
- San Diego$120,370
- Los Angeles$111,790
Compare Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California is $124,920.
- How does California compare to the national median for Atmospheric and Space Scientists?
- The California median is +25.9% versus the BLS national figure of $99,218.
- What is the salary range for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,900 and the 90th-percentile at $175,900, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Atmospheric and Space Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 1.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Atmospheric and Space Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.