What are the main factors that influence a Planetary Scientist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Planetary Scientist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Planetary Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

How does experience change A Planetary Scientist's salary?

A Planetary Scientist's salary grows with experience: starting around $99,634 for beginners, reaching about $101,477 at mid-level, and approach $106,596 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Planetary Scientist?

Planetary Scientist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Planetary Scientist roles are District of Columbia $110,342, California $109,923, Massachusetts $108,458. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Planetary Scientist roles make?

Salaries for Planetary Scientist level roles vary by specialization: Social Scientist: $138,498; Weather Scientist: $136,200; Atmospheric Scientist: $136,120; Associate Scientist, Scientist: $131,336; Scientist: $125,796.

Planetary Scientist Salary in Delaware

How much does a Planetary Scientist make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Planetary Scientist in Delaware is $100,924 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

However, a Planetary Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,574
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87,650 to $110,163
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,565

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

AI Onboarding

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Planetary Scientist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$110,163	$9,180	$2,119	$53
Average	$100,924	$8,410	$1,941	$49
25th Percentile	$87,650	$7,304	$1,686	$42

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Planetary Scientist Job Openings in Delaware

Travel L&D RN

Focus Staff - RAPID CITY, SD

Travel L&D RN

Focus Staff - LEBANON, NH

Travel ER RN

Focus Staff - URBANA, IL

Travel RN

Focus Staff - WEIRTON, WV

Search More Planetary Scientist Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Planetary Scientist Salaries

A Planetary Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Planetary Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Planetary Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $99,634
Early Career (1-2 years): $100,002
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,477
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,690
Expert (over 8 years): $106,596

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Planetary Scientist	$99,634
Intermediate Level Planetary Scientist	$100,002
Senior Level Planetary Scientist	$101,477
Specialist Level Planetary Scientist	$103,690
Expert Level Planetary Scientist	$106,596

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Planetary Scientist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Planetary Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $110,342.
California: $109,923.
Massachusetts: $108,458.

District of Columbia $110,342 California $109,923 Massachusetts $108,458 Washington $108,060 New Jersey $108,020 Alaska $107,880 Connecticut $106,505 New York $105,947

Hawaii $104,163 Rhode Island $103,326 Maryland $102,758 Minnesota $101,981 Colorado $101,682 Illinois $101,582 Oregon $101,203 Delaware $100,924

New Hampshire $100,749 Virginia $100,356 Pennsylvania $99,210 Nevada $98,632 North Dakota $98,443 Michigan $98,144 Wisconsin $98,034 Vermont $97,815

Texas $97,207 Maine $97,167 Arizona $97,107 Ohio $97,037 Georgia $96,121 Indiana $95,662 Wyoming $95,573 Utah $95,433

Iowa $95,373 Kansas $94,895 Louisiana $94,755 North Carolina $94,705 Missouri $94,686 Florida $94,297 Montana $94,088 Nebraska $93,888

Kentucky $93,779 South Carolina $93,380 Tennessee $93,131 Idaho $93,031 New Mexico $92,304 Oklahoma $92,144 Alabama $91,556 South Dakota $90,570

Arkansas $90,031 West Virginia $89,742 Mississippi $88,875

Top Paying Cities for Planetary Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $100,470
Little Creek: $101,205
Magnolia: $101,060

Lincoln, DE $100,470 Little Creek, DE $101,205 Magnolia, DE $101,060 Milford, DE $100,725 Marydel, DE $100,890 Millsboro, DE $100,048 Millville, DE $100,203 Milton, DE $100,376

Nassau, DE $100,449 Ocean View, DE $100,186 Rehoboth Beach, DE $100,378 Seaford, DE $100,435 Selbyville, DE $100,019 Smyrna, DE $101,275 Viola, DE $100,809 Woodside, DE $101,080

Bear, DE $100,846 Newark, DE $100,809 Claymont, DE $101,015 Delaware City, DE $100,909 Hockessin, DE $100,800 Kirkwood, DE $100,890 Middletown, DE $100,929 Montchanin, DE $100,823

New Castle, DE $100,837 Odessa, DE $100,979 Port Penn, DE $101,047 Rockland, DE $100,832 Saint Georges, DE $100,897 Townsend, DE $101,053 Winterthur, DE $100,844 Lewes, DE $100,415

Wilmington, DE $100,805 Dover, DE $101,205 Dover Afb, DE $100,672 Bethany Beach, DE $100,080 Bethel, DE $100,184 Bridgeville, DE $100,420 Camden Wyoming, DE $100,920 Cheswold, DE $101,172

Clayton, DE $101,175 Dagsboro, DE $100,010 Delmar, DE $99,850 Ellendale, DE $100,153 Felton, DE $100,717 Fenwick Island, DE $100,032 Frankford, DE $99,858 Frederica, DE $100,817

Georgetown, DE $99,972 Greenwood, DE $100,436 Harbeson, DE $100,079 Harrington, DE $100,589 Hartly, DE $100,902 Houston, DE $100,446 Kenton, DE $101,180 Laurel, DE $99,913

Yorklyn, DE $100,829

Planetary Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Planetary Scientist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Planetary Scientist positions in Edu., Gov't & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Planetary Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Planetary Scientist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$111,017	$53.0	10%

Planetary Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Planetary Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$87,650

Average $100,924/year

$110,163

$7,304

Average $8,410/month

$9,180

$1,686

Average $1,941/week

$2,119

$42

Average $49/hour

$53

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$110,163	$9,180	$2,119	$53
Average	$100,924	$8,410	$1,941	$49
25th Percentile	$87,650	$7,304	$1,686	$42

Salaries of jobs related to Planetary Scientist

Find Your Next Planetary Scientist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Planetary Scientist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about