Sources: Tennessee Department of Human Resources, Tennessee DOHR Alpha Comp Plan (September 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Tennessee state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 1, 2026. These are the ranges Tennessee sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Env Specialist 1 Class 072921 Grade K | $4,057.00 – $6,099.00 a month $48,684 – $73,188 a year |
| Env Protection Specialist 1 Class 076551 Grade L | $4,562.00 – $6,825.00 a month $54,744 – $81,900 a year |
| Env Specialist 3 Class 072922 Grade L | $4,562.00 – $6,825.00 a month $54,744 – $81,900 a year |
| Env Protection Specialist 3 Class 076553 Grade N | $5,647.00 – $9,005.00 a month $67,764 – $108,060 a year |
| Env Specialist 4 Class 072923 Grade N | $5,647.00 – $9,005.00 a month $67,764 – $108,060 a year |
| Env Specialist 5 Class 072926 Grade N | $5,647.00 – $9,005.00 a month $67,764 – $108,060 a year |
| Env Specialist 6 Class 072924 Grade N | $5,647.00 – $9,005.00 a month $67,764 – $108,060 a year |
| Env Protection Specialist 4 Class 076557 Grade O | $6,544.00 – $10,363.00 a month $78,528 – $124,356 a year |
| Env Protection Specialist 5 Class 076554 Grade O | $6,544.00 – $10,363.00 a month $78,528 – $124,356 a year |
| Env Protection Specialist 6 Class 076555 Grade P | $7,458.00 – $11,935.00 a month $89,496 – $143,220 a year |
Schedule: Alpha Comp Plan salary plan PRI. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Tennessee Department of Human Resources, Tennessee DOHR Alpha Comp Plan (September 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Tennessee, all employers Sourced
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041) in Tennessee, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | TN |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,230 |
| 10th percentile | $54,040 |
| Median | $76,840 |
| 90th percentile | $133,180 |
| National median, government employers | $82,730 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Environmental Scientist (government) page.