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The California Academy of Sciences is renowned for its commitment to education and sustainability, offering a diverse range of career opportunities. As of 2025, the average salary is approximately $47,864. This figure reflects a variety of roles, from administrative positions to scientific research, catering to different skill sets and interests.
In addition to the average salary, specific departments at the Academy often provide competitive pay. For instance, roles in education and outreach may command higher salaries due to the specialized skills required. Furthermore, locations within California can impact compensation levels, with urban areas typically offering higher wages to match living costs.
Whether you're looking to launch a career or advance in your field, the California Academy of Sciences supports professional growth through various educational programs and collaborative projects, making it an attractive workplace for those passionate about science and the environment.
The highest paying jobs at California Academy of Sciences are senior director of information & technology, project manager, director of retail operations, and research scientist. Senior director of information & technology jobs at California Academy of Sciences earn an average yearly salary of $137,623, California Academy of Sciences project manager jobs average $98,543, and California Academy of Sciences director of retail operations jobs average $96,451.
The lowest paying California Academy of Sciences roles include guest service attendant and guest services. California Academy of Sciences guest service attendant average salary is $32,382 per year. So while the average California Academy of Sciences salary is $47,864 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
| Rank | Job title | Average California Academy of Sciences salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Director Of Information & Technology | $137,623 | $66.16 |
| 2 | Project Manager | $98,543 | $47.38 |
| 3 | Director Of Retail Operations | $96,451 | $46.37 |
| 4 | Research Scientist | $91,266 | $43.88 |
| 5 | Data Scientist | $88,678 | $42.63 |
| 6 | Researcher | $74,115 | $35.63 |
| 7 | Business Analyst | $72,241 | $34.73 |
| 8 | Strength And Conditioning Coach | $69,340 | $33.34 |
| 9 | Operations Analyst | $64,869 | $31.19 |
| 10 | Aircraft Mechanic | $64,678 | $31.10 |
| 11 | Coach And Trainer | $63,882 | $30.71 |
| 12 | Special Education Administrator | $63,144 | $30.36 |
| 13 | Research Associate | $62,717 | $30.15 |
| 14 | Security Supervisor | $60,709 | $29.19 |
| 15 | Special Education Coordinator | $60,623 | $29.15 |
| 16 | Docent | $60,151 | $28.92 |
| 17 | Information Technology Technical Trainer | $59,937 | $28.82 |
| 18 | Flight Instructor | $59,696 | $28.70 |
| 19 | Speech Language Pathologist | $59,516 | $28.61 |
| 20 | Photographer | $55,860 | $26.86 |
Rate the fairness of California Academy of Sciences' compensation policies.
| Rank | Location | Average California Academy of Sciences salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $57,235 | $27.52 |
| 2 | Rowe, MA | $55,115 | $26.50 |
| 3 | Enon, VA | $50,812 | $24.43 |
| 4 | Boone, CO | $49,405 | $23.75 |
| 5 | Troy, MI | $47,368 | $22.77 |
| 6 | Homeworth, OH | $47,346 | $22.76 |
| 7 | Nunez, GA | $47,336 | $22.76 |
| 8 | Springfield, MO | $45,408 | $21.83 |
| 9 | Cope, SC | $45,131 | $21.70 |
| 10 | Bono, AR | $44,554 | $21.42 |
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Did California Academy of Sciences' compensation package meet your expectations?
Salaries at California Academy of Sciences vary depending on the department you work in. California Academy of Sciences salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $75,185. Employees in the it department at California Academy of Sciences receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $75,135 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at California Academy of Sciences include the customer service and the administrative organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $37,228 and $39,405, respectively.
| Rank | Department | Average California Academy of Sciences salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering | $75,185 | $36.15 |
| 2 | IT | $75,135 | $36.12 |
| 3 | Marketing | $64,988 | $31.24 |
| 4 | Research & Development | $61,902 | $29.76 |
| 5 | Finance | $61,487 | $29.56 |
| 6 | Plant/Manufacturing | $56,187 | $27.01 |
| 7 | Healthcare | $55,505 | $26.69 |
| 8 | Art/Design | $55,049 | $26.47 |
| 9 | Education | $52,501 | $25.24 |
| 10 | Human Resources | $51,134 | $24.58 |
| 11 | Retail | $50,455 | $24.26 |
| 12 | Non Profit/Government | $48,775 | $23.45 |
| 13 | Sales | $48,596 | $23.36 |
| 14 | Hospitality/Service | $42,146 | $20.26 |
| 15 | Facilities | $42,115 | $20.25 |
| 16 | Administrative | $39,406 | $18.95 |
| 17 | Customer Service | $37,228 | $17.90 |
| Rank | Position | Average California Academy of Sciences salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Manager | $85,892 | $41.29 |
| 2 | After School Program Coordinator | $70,948 | $34.11 |
| 3 | Associate Curator | $69,773 | $33.54 |
| 4 | Strength And Conditioning Coach | $69,340 | $33.34 |
| 5 | Adjunct Biology Professor | $67,902 | $32.65 |
| 6 | Coach And Trainer | $63,882 | $30.71 |
| 7 | Associate Director Of Admissions | $60,975 | $29.31 |
| 8 | Special Education Coordinator | $60,623 | $29.15 |
| 9 | Flight Instructor | $59,696 | $28.70 |
| 10 | Curriculum Specialist | $56,621 | $27.22 |
| 11 | Teacher | $53,497 | $25.72 |
| 12 | Culinary Arts Instructor | $53,283 | $25.62 |
| 13 | Educator | $53,223 | $25.59 |
| 14 | Teaching Assistant | $52,878 | $25.42 |
| 15 | Education Internship | $52,231 | $25.11 |
| 16 | Student Services Advisor | $47,978 | $23.07 |
| 17 | School Psychology Specialist | $45,717 | $21.98 |
| 18 | ESL Tutor | $36,576 | $17.58 |
| 19 | Educational Assistant | $36,176 | $17.39 |
| Rank | Position | Average California Academy of Sciences salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Records Analyst | $54,607 | $26.25 |
| 2 | Office Manager | $54,371 | $26.14 |
| 3 | Trader JOE's | $50,516 | $24.29 |
| 4 | Bookkeeper | $45,406 | $21.83 |
| 5 | Student Internship | $42,000 | $20.19 |
| 6 | Sales Administrative Coordinator | $40,459 | $19.45 |
| 7 | Data Entry Specialist | $39,694 | $19.08 |
| 8 | Administrative Assistant | $38,447 | $18.48 |
| 9 | Office Clerk | $37,377 | $17.97 |
| 10 | Records Clerk | $37,282 | $17.92 |
| 11 | Guest Services Manager | $37,259 | $17.91 |
| 12 | Admissions Coordinator | $36,346 | $17.47 |
| 13 | Guest Service Supervisor | $36,286 | $17.45 |
| 14 | Project Management Internship | $36,198 | $17.40 |
| 15 | Admissions Specialist | $35,785 | $17.20 |
| 16 | Service Secretary | $35,716 | $17.17 |
| 17 | Receptionist | $35,639 | $17.13 |
| 18 | Student Assistant | $32,479 | $15.61 |
| Rank | Position | Average California Academy of Sciences salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Docent | $60,151 | $28.92 |
| 2 | Aircraft Dispatcher | $57,093 | $27.45 |
| 3 | Chef Instructor | $55,400 | $26.63 |
| 4 | Nanny | $45,772 | $22.01 |
| 5 | Tour Guide | $40,810 | $19.62 |
| 6 | Sous Chef | $38,721 | $18.62 |
| 7 | Pastry Cook | $36,864 | $17.72 |
| 8 | Fitness Instructor | $35,528 | $17.08 |
| 9 | Child Care Worker | $35,487 | $17.06 |
| 10 | Server | $35,229 | $16.94 |
| 11 | Catering Assistant | $34,838 | $16.75 |
| 12 | Guest Relations Representative | $34,069 | $16.38 |
| 13 | Housekeeper | $33,888 | $16.29 |
| 14 | Guest Services | $32,679 | $15.71 |
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biologist I, Animal Care | San Francisco, CA | 06/27/2025 | $56,495 |
| Biologist I | San Francisco, CA | 06/18/2025 | $56,495 |
| Building Maintenance Coordinator | San Francisco, CA | 06/09/2025 | $57,685 |
| Program Coordinator-Education | San Francisco, CA | 05/22/2025 | $63,925 |
| Corporate Engagement Officer | Ione, CA | 05/16/2025 | $86,757 |
I think the pros at working at the California Academy of Sciences are being able to work at the Academy. I get to go to any of the exhibits during my breaks, and learn new things every day. The discounts I get at the store are also nice. Most of the employees who work there are also very welcoming, kind, and always happy to share their knowledge with you.
In my experience, the cons of working at the California Academy of Sciences is that there is definitely a social and institutional divide between lower levels of staff and leadership. I did not feel it during my first year, but definitely felt it during my second year. There has been a lot of friction and finger pointing coming from both sides, and I'm not sure how it's going to get better. For me specifically, I've felt a huge amount of loss within my own team, because we got new leadership and since then almost our whole original team has left and half of the people that we've hired on to replace them have also left. Hopefully they're able to turn the team around soon.
My favorite perk is the free family level membership and discounts at the local inner sunset stores.
The CEO is able to recognize when he doesn't know something and other people can do the job better than him. The leadership team really tries to be thoughtful with all of their decision making.
I would have people sit face-to-face with a mediator and talk. People are shouting too much and people really just need to talk, see each other's faces, and listen to one another.
I looked up the mission, vision, and values of the company. The thing about the Academy is that it does such amazing work; they really want people working there that believe in the mission as much as they do. Everyone, even administrative staff believe and support the mission.
The compensation is on-par with or above the industry average. That being said, the Academy is a non-profit and in the museum space, so the compensation will be lower than other companies in the area.
I feel extremely good about the diverse demographics within the organization. We work very hard at representing as many people as we can at the Academy. We believe that the Academy is stronger when more voices are at the table.
I love being able to see all of the exhibits and work with amazing, mission driven people.
Work-life balance; mission-oriented (the Academy's mission is to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth)
Decision-by-committee
health benefits
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California Academy of Sciences may also be known as or be related to CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, California Academy Of Sciences, California Academy of Sciences and The California Academy of Sciences.