Planetary Scientist Salary in Los Altos, CA

How much does a Planetary Scientist make in Los Altos, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Planetary Scientist in Los Altos, CA is $123,346 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $144,628
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,313 to $134,486
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,715
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View as table View as graph 25% $107,313 10% $92,715 90% $144,628 75% $134,486 $123,346 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Planetary Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $134,486 $11,207 $2,586 $65
Average $123,346 $10,279 $2,372 $59
25th Percentile $107,313 $8,943 $2,064 $52
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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, skills 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): $121,787
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $122,232
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $124,014
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,686
  • Expert (over 8 years): $130,188
Levels Salary
Entry Level Planetary Scientist$121,787
Intermediate Level Planetary Scientist$122,232
Senior Level Planetary Scientist$124,014
Specialist Level Planetary Scientist$126,686
Expert Level Planetary Scientist$130,188
$121,787 0 yr
$122,232 < 2 yrs
$124,014 2-4 yrs
$126,686 5-8 yrs
$130,188 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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:

  • San Jose: $125,745
  • San Francisco: $124,368
  • Oakland: $121,747

What Skills Can Increase a Planetary Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.2% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Clinical Outcomes (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Clinical outcomes are measurable changes in health, function or quality of life that result from our care.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.2%
Acute Care 1.6%
Clinical Outcomes 1.6%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Planetary Scientist's salary.
  • Patient Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Patient Safety
$161,583
31%
Verbal Communication
$148,015
20%
Process Improvement
$148,015
20%
Management Skills
$145,548
18%
Word Processing
$145,548
18%
Relationship Management
$144,315
17%
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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$135,680$65.010%

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 August 01, 2026

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.

United States
  • MaxVal Group

    Los Altos, CA

    MaxVal Group | Los Altos, CA

    A leading IP management solutions provider in Silicon Valley is seeking experienced Project Managers to drive the implementation of their flagship Symphony... more

    8 Days Ago

  • U.S. Navy

    Los Altos, CA

    U.S. Navy | Los Altos, CA

    Job Title :Security & Law Enforcement (Master-at-Arms) Category / Component :Enlisted Active Overview Master-at-Arms (MA) Sailors provide the Navy's core s... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Los Altos, CA

    Confidential | Los Altos, CA

    Senior Vice President, Product. About the Company. Ambitious provider of AI-native digital workers for enterprise applications. Industry. Information Techn... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Stepping Stones Preschool &amp; infant Care

    Los Altos, CA

    Stepping Stones Preschool &amp; infant Care | Los Altos, CA

    We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Infant/Toddler Teacher to join our team.This role is ideal for someone who is patient, nurturing, and passiona... more

    9 Days Ago

  • The Terraces at Los Altos - a HumanGood community

    Los Altos, CA

    The Terraces at Los Altos - a HumanGood community | Los Altos, CA

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    9 Days Ago

  • California Water Service Group (CWSG)

    Los Altos, CA

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