Planetary Science

Planetary Science Salary

$24.5K

$46K

$79K

$48,391

/year

$23.26

/hour

Planetary Science Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$48,391

Columbus

Ohio

$46,741

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    How much does a Planetary Science make?

    As of Jul 26, 2026, the average annual pay for a Planetary Science in the United States is $48,391 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.26 an hour. This is the equivalent of $930/week or $4,032/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $79,000 and as low as $24,500, the majority of Planetary Science salaries currently range between $38,500 (25th percentile) to $52,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $65,500 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Planetary Science varies greatly (by as much as 13500), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    A Planetary Science in your area makes on average $46,741 per year, or $1,650 (3.410%) less than the national average annual salary of $48,391. Ohio ranks number 40 out of 50 states nationwide for Planetary Science salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Planetary Science jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as a Planetary Science on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Planetary Science Jobs

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Planetary Science job is above the national average. Topping the list is Noorvik, AK, , with Kentville, NS, and Whitehorse, YT, close behind in the second and third positions. Whitehorse, YT, beats the national average by $18,334 (37.9%), and Noorvik, AK, furthers that trend with another $22,670 (46.8%) above the $48,391 average.

    With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Planetary Science appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 9% between Noorvik, AK, and San Luis Obispo, CA, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Planetary Science role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Noorvik, AK

    $71,061

    $34.16

    Kentville, NS

    $67,152

    $32.28

    Whitehorse, YT

    $66,725

    $32.08

    Carcross, YT

    $66,686

    $32.06

    Haines Junction, YT

    $66,458

    $31.95

    North Cowichan, BC

    $66,262

    $31.86

    Victoria, BC

    $65,608

    $31.54

    Alberton, PE

    $64,996

    $31.25

    Courtenay, BC

    $64,821

    $31.16

    San Luis Obispo, CA

    $64,320

    $30.92

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Planetary Science Jobs in the U.S.

    We found a few related jobs that pay more than jobs in the Planetary Science category.

    For example Medical Laboratory Manager jobs pay as much as $49,901 (103.1%) more than the average Planetary Science salary of $48,391. If you're qualified, finding work as a Medical Laboratory Manager may help you make more money than that of the average Planetary Science position.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Medical Laboratory Manager

    $98,292

    $47.26

    Histology Supervisor

    $89,007

    $42.79

    Laboratory Supervisor

    $85,306

    $41.01

    Government Investigator

    $75,325

    $36.21

    Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor

    $69,907

    $33.61

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Planetary Science salary across the United States as of July 2026. Displays a bar chart with salary percentiles, a national average salary of $48,391 per year or $23.26 an hour, and a color-coded map showing state-by-state salary variations.