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Freelance Climate Data Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Watershed

$150 - $190/hr

Martens use Watershed to manage climate and ESG data, produce audit-ready metrics for voluntary and ... This is an applied science role, where your knowledge and expertise will become product ...

Open CEDA

$150 - $190/hr

Martens use Watershed to manage climate and ESG data, produce audit-ready metrics for voluntary and ... This is an applied science role, where your knowledge and expertise will become product ...

New

ISHE

$83 - $138/hr

We are seeking an experienced freelance researcher with advanced skills in data science, research ... climate surveys, and more. Survey analysis is our most frequent type of project. The ideal ...

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)

$83 - $138/hr

Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, high‑impact technical work * Make a tangible contribution to how AI understands and applies data science at scale * Potential for ongoing ...

New

Clarasight

Data Scientist

Boston, NY · On-site +1

You move fluidly between data science, prototyping, and product thinking, and you're just as ... Working among a diverse, expert team at the forefront of climate tech, behavioral change, and ...

IQUASAR LLC

DATA SCIENTIST

San Diego, CA · On-site

... climate/environmental informatics. Work will involve developing machine learning models that ... Work with the TRABUS Data Science team to deliver scalable AI solutions involving LLMs, RAG, prompt ...

iQuasar LLC

DATA SCIENTIST

San Diego, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

... climate/environmental informatics. Work will involve developing machine learning models that ... Work with the TRABUS Data Science team to deliver scalable AI solutions involving LLMs, RAG, prompt ...

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All Jobsfreelance JobsFreelance Climate Data Scientist Jobs

Freelance Climate Data Scientist information

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$37.5K

$122.7K

$196.5K

How much do freelance climate data scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance climate data scientist in the United States is $122,738.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,500.00 and $136,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance climate data scientist do?

A Freelance Climate Data Scientist analyzes and interprets climate-related data to help organizations understand environmental trends and make informed decisions. Their work often involves collecting large datasets, applying statistical and machine learning techniques, and visualizing results to communicate complex findings clearly. As freelancers, they may work with governments, NGOs, or private companies on projects related to climate change, sustainability, and environmental impact. Their insights can help shape policy, inform climate models, and support research aimed at mitigating climate risks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance climate data scientist?

To thrive as a Freelance Climate Data Scientist, you need expertise in climate science, data analysis, and statistical modeling, typically supported by an advanced degree in a related field. Proficiency with programming languages like Python or R, GIS software, and cloud-based data platforms is commonly required. Strong communication, self-motivation, and project management skills set exceptional freelancers apart. These abilities are crucial for delivering insightful analyses, managing independent projects, and effectively collaborating with clients in a dynamic and evolving field.

How do freelance climate data scientists typically collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams?

Freelance Climate Data Scientists often work remotely with a variety of clients, including government agencies, NGOs, and private companies. Collaboration usually involves regular virtual meetings, sharing progress updates, and integrating feedback from stakeholders such as environmental scientists, policy experts, and software engineers. Clear communication and the ability to translate complex data insights into actionable recommendations are essential. Many freelancers use project management tools and cloud-based platforms to facilitate teamwork and ensure smooth data sharing.

What is the difference between Freelance Climate Data Scientist vs Climate Data Analyst?

AspectFreelance Climate Data ScientistClimate Data Analyst
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees (Master's or PhD) in climate science, data science, or related fieldsUsually holds a bachelor's or master's degree in environmental science, data analysis, or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based work often remote; collaborates with clients or organizationsEmployed within organizations or agencies; may work in office or remote settings
Employer & Industry UsageServes multiple clients across industries like environmental consulting, NGOs, or government agenciesWorks within organizations to analyze climate data for internal decision-making or reporting

In summary, a Freelance Climate Data Scientist typically has advanced credentials and works independently on diverse projects, while a Climate Data Analyst is often employed within organizations to analyze climate data for specific internal purposes.

More about Freelance Climate Data Scientist jobs

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Cities with the most Freelance Climate Data Scientist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Climate Data Scientist jobs?

The most popular types of Climate Data Scientist jobs are:

What states have the most Freelance Climate Data Scientist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Freelance Climate Data Scientist jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Climate Data Scientist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Climate Data Scientist jobs are:

Freelance Climate Data Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Climate Data Scientist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,738 per year, or $59 per hour.

Climate Data Scientist, Sustainability

Watershed Technology, Inc

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$193K - $202K/yr

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

About Watershed
Watershed is the enterprise sustainability platform. Companies like Airbnb, Carlyle Group, FedEx, Visa, and Dr. Martens use Watershed to manage climate and ESG data, produce audit-ready metrics for voluntary and regulatory reporting including CSRD, and drive real decarbonization. We are looking for team members who love product-building, want to work hard at a mission-oriented startup, and will collaborate with us in shaping the culture of a growing team.
We have offices in San Francisco, New York, Denver, London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City, and remote team members across the US and Europe. We hope that you'll be interested in joining us!
The role
Domain expertise in the science of sustainability is the foundation upon which Watershed is built. On the Methodology team, we work at the nexus of corporate sustainability, sustainability science, data, and software - developing the methods that turn raw business data into auditable sustainability data and actionable sustainability insight.
This is a technical, hands-on, and highly collaborative role. You'll work closely with software engineers, data scientists, and product managers to build and maintain Watershed's industry-leading built-in methodologies: keeping them up to date with the latest scientific developments and standards, developing pragmatic and innovative approaches to emerging challenges, and maintaining our high bar for scientific rigor and integrity.
This is an applied science role, where your knowledge and expertise will become product capabilities used by companies to understand and reduce their real-world impact. You'll need to understand not only the scientific fundamentals of sustainability, but also how they apply across business contexts, sectors, data realities, legislation, and standards. Great corporate sustainability programs that drive real change are built on credible, accessible, and actionable data - this is our North Star.
You will
  • Develop, maintain, and improve Watershed's built-in sustainability methodologies, translating sustainability science, GHG accounting standards, and emerging regulatory requirements into robust product logic.
  • Partner closely with software engineers, data scientists, and product managers to design methodology features that are scientifically rigorous, auditable, scalable, and intuitive for customers.
  • Work directly in and around the codebase: reviewing methodology implementations, writing clear technical specifications, contributing configuration or logic where appropriate, and helping build tests that give us confidence in scientific correctness.
  • Interpret evolving standards and guidance - including the GHG Protocol, sustainability reporting frameworks, and sector-specific methodologies - and determine how they should be reflected in Watershed's product.
  • Investigate complex customer and product questions where sustainability science, data quality, accounting rules, and business context intersect.
  • Build pragmatic approaches for messy real-world business data, balancing scientific rigor with usability, auditability, and customer impact.
  • Collaborate with our go-to-market and customer-facing teams to explain methodology choices clearly to customers, auditors, and other stakeholders.
  • Help set the bar for scientific quality across Watershed by documenting decisions, reviewing methodology changes, and contributing to our internal methodology standards.
You might be a fit if you
  • Have a Master's or PhD in climate science, environmental science, sustainability, industrial ecology, or another relevant quantitative field.
  • Have 5+ years of experience in corporate sustainability, sustainability consulting, carbon accounting, climate strategy, or a related field - ideally working with large, complex organizations.
  • Are a systems thinker who can zoom out to understand interconnected sustainability and business systems, then zoom in to identify high‑leverage technical solutions and anticipate unintended impacts.
  • Have deep knowledge of both the application of, and reasoning behind, prevailing GHG accounting standards and sustainability reporting frameworks - at minimum the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and Scope 3 Standard; familiarity with the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance and updated ESRS is a plus.
  • Able to work in a Python codebase. This is not a software engineering role, but you should be comfortable reading code, reasoning about implementation details, and making contributions to the codebase.
  • Can communicate complex ideas clearly to a wide range of audiences, including scientific experts, academics, verifiers, auditors, customers, internal business stakeholders, software engineers, and data scientists.
Bonus points
  • Experience building or maintaining carbon accounting methodologies, emissions factor datasets, LCA models, or sustainability software.
  • Familiarity with assurance or audit processes for GHG inventories or sustainability disclosures.
  • Comfort working with data using Python, SQL, Typescript, or similar tools.
  • Experience translating complex standards or scientific methods into operational guidance, technical specifications, or product requirements.
  • Experience working with engineers to translate scientific methods into tested, production-grade software.

Must be willing to work from an office 4 days per week (except for remote roles)
Watershed has hub offices in San Francisco, New York, London, and Mexico City and satellite offices in Denver, Sydney, Paris, and Berlin. Where we have offices, employees are expected to be in office for 4 days per week. Certain jobs are open to being remote and will be specifically noted on the jobs page and in the job description if so.
What's the interview process like?
It starts the same for every candidate: getting to know the team members through 1 to 2 conversations about Watershed, your experience, and your interests. Next steps can vary by role, but usual next steps are a skill or experience interview (e.g. a coding interview for an engineer, a portfolio review for a designer, deeper experience call for other roles) which leads to a virtual or in person interview panel. We prioritize transparency and lack of surprise throughout the process.
What if I need accommodations for my interview?
At Watershed, we are dedicated to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. We provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health needs, religious observances, neurodivergence, or pregnancy-related support requirements. If you need assistance during your process, please contact your recruiter.

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