Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations in California

45 occupations · 2024 BLS OEWS data

Life, physical, and social science occupations include researchers, scientists, and technicians working in biology, chemistry, economics, psychology, and related fields. The table below shows 2024 wage data for these occupations as reported in California.

Occupation	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Workers
Physicists	$180,900	$187,720	6,220
Psychologists, All Other	$147,650	$130,940	1,780
Astronomers	$142,060	$141,660	170
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$140,540	$137,540	100
Materials Scientists	$131,530	$130,220	610
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$131,430	$134,880	24,190
Political Scientists	$130,630	$132,240	50
Biochemists and Biophysicists	$130,240	$130,030	4,190
Life Scientists, All Other	$128,750	$149,340	880
Physical Scientists, All Other	$128,250	$142,070	2,220
Sociologists	$120,610	$118,570	660
Hydrologists	$118,960	$119,540	670
School Psychologists	$118,310	$117,630	9,350
Atmospheric and Space Scientists	$117,770	$121,620	580
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$114,520	$124,720	11,900
Biological Scientists, All Other	$112,010	$121,000	12,580
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	$111,400	$119,100	3,150
Microbiologists	$107,380	$115,910	2,510
Urban and Regional Planners	$105,230	$111,520	7,630
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$101,110	$105,150	2,650
Economists	$100,510	$125,570	1,400
Epidemiologists	$100,410	$112,580	1,590
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	$99,530	$105,410	14,600
Foresters	$98,870	$101,700	830
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	$97,520	$107,420	13,200
Chemists	$97,010	$105,500	8,480
Forensic Science Technicians	$96,850	$99,390	3,100
Food Scientists and Technologists	$85,480	$91,820	2,350
Historians	$83,360	$88,730	180
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	$82,620	$91,460	1,580
Conservation Scientists	$81,620	$87,840	1,940
Soil and Plant Scientists	$80,960	$91,660	1,710
Survey Researchers	$77,180	$86,950	1,090
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	$75,780	$75,780	10,120
Anthropologists and Archeologists	$74,100	$79,420	1,060
Biological Technicians	$64,020	$70,930	10,680
Hydrologic Technicians	$63,900	$69,560	400
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians	$63,160	$78,300	830
Forest and Conservation Technicians	$60,880	$63,140	6,440
Agricultural Technicians	$58,330	$56,040	3,100
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	$57,990	$67,020	3,760
Chemical Technicians	$56,620	$61,820	6,480
Food Science Technicians	$50,960	$55,100	4,000
Social Science Research Assistants	$48,720	$62,740	5,610
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	$38,220	$53,610	—