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Job title · Washington

Environmental Scientist (government) in Washington

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources lists 5 job classes for this work in the Washington state pay plan: Environmental Specialist 1–5.

$43,836 – $114,852
state pay plan range, a year
5
classes in the state plan
$98,300
median pay in WA, all employers
4,470
workers in WA (SOC 19-2041)

Sources: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Washington sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Environmental Specialist 1
Class 523E · class description
Grade 40 · General Service Salary Schedule
$43,836 – $58,392 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $43,836 a year
  • Step B: $44,856 a year
  • Step C: $45,924 a year
  • Step D: $47,004 a year
  • Step E: $48,048 a year
  • Step F: $49,296 a year
  • Step G: $50,412 a year
  • Step H: $51,600 a year
  • Step I: $52,872 a year
  • Step J: $54,204 a year
  • Step K: $55,596 a year
  • Step L: $56,952 a year
  • Step M: $58,392 a year
Environmental Specialist 2
Class 523F · class description
Grade 47 · General Service Salary Schedule
$51,600 – $69,348 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $51,600 a year
  • Step B: $52,872 a year
  • Step C: $54,204 a year
  • Step D: $55,596 a year
  • Step E: $56,952 a year
  • Step F: $58,392 a year
  • Step G: $59,760 a year
  • Step H: $61,332 a year
  • Step I: $62,880 a year
  • Step J: $64,512 a year
  • Step K: $66,072 a year
  • Step L: $67,704 a year
  • Step M: $69,348 a year
Environmental Specialist 3
Class 523G · class description
Grade 53 · General Service Salary Schedule
$59,760 – $80,496 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $59,760 a year
  • Step B: $61,332 a year
  • Step C: $62,880 a year
  • Step D: $64,512 a year
  • Step E: $66,072 a year
  • Step F: $67,704 a year
  • Step G: $69,348 a year
  • Step H: $71,136 a year
  • Step I: $72,900 a year
  • Step J: $74,748 a year
  • Step K: $76,608 a year
  • Step L: $78,504 a year
  • Step M: $80,496 a year
Environmental Specialist 4
Class 523H · class description
Grade 59 · General Service Salary Schedule
$69,348 – $93,288 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $69,348 a year
  • Step B: $71,136 a year
  • Step C: $72,900 a year
  • Step D: $74,748 a year
  • Step E: $76,608 a year
  • Step F: $78,504 a year
  • Step G: $80,496 a year
  • Step H: $82,440 a year
  • Step I: $84,528 a year
  • Step J: $86,688 a year
  • Step K: $88,788 a year
  • Step L: $91,104 a year
  • Step M: $93,288 a year
Grade 59 · Teamsters Local 117 Standard Progression General Service Salary Schedule
$85,368 – $114,852 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $85,368 a year
  • Step B: $87,576 a year
  • Step C: $89,724 a year
  • Step D: $92,028 a year
  • Step E: $94,260 a year
  • Step F: $96,660 a year
  • Step G: $99,036 a year
  • Step H: $101,520 a year
  • Step I: $104,052 a year
  • Step J: $106,704 a year
  • Step K: $109,272 a year
  • Step L: $112,092 a year
  • Step M: $114,852 a year
Environmental Specialist 5
Class 523X · class description
Grade 63 · General Service Salary Schedule
$76,608 – $102,996 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $76,608 a year
  • Step B: $78,504 a year
  • Step C: $80,496 a year
  • Step D: $82,440 a year
  • Step E: $84,528 a year
  • Step F: $86,688 a year
  • Step G: $88,788 a year
  • Step H: $91,104 a year
  • Step I: $93,288 a year
  • Step J: $95,676 a year
  • Step K: $98,064 a year
  • Step L: $100,488 a year
  • Step M: $102,996 a year

Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041) in Washington, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureWA
Workers4,470
10th percentile$71,140
Median$98,300
90th percentile$153,960
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.

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