Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,830 or more. The middle half of atmospheric and space scientists in Los Angeles earn between $105,910 and $130,740.
- $88K10th
- $106K25th
- $112KMedian
- $131K75th
- $141K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,740 | $9,895 | $57.09 |
| Median | $111,790 | $9,316 | $53.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,910 | $8,826 | $50.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,740 | $10,895 | $62.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Atmospheric and space scientists in Los Angeles earn 7% less than the California average ($127,330) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($106,110). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $99,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $118,740 | $111,790 | $87,940 | $140,830 | 220 |
| 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 Los Angeles
On the average salary of $118,740, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $85,413 a year, or $7,118 a month and $3,285 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 Los Angeles a good place for atmospheric and space scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $118,740 buys what about $104,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 2nd of 3 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($164,020).
- 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 Los Angeles: questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$57.09 an hour on average, and $53.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level atmospheric and space scientists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the atmospheric and space scientists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $85,413 a year ($7,118 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,740. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do atmospheric and space scientists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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