California / Conservation

Agency file

Conservation

Source file: California — State Employee Compensation (SCO Payroll Data Warehouse, CPRA) / ingested Jul 4, 2026

The Conservation protects natural resources and the environment — conservation, parks and wildlife, and environmental regulation.

In 2025, this agency had 813 employees with median total compensation of $114,236; the highest distinct record was $252,601.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $92.2M
Employees: 813
Median total: $114,236
Highest record: $252,601

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$250$210,773+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 813 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($114,236) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $110,934 (98%)
Overtime — $472 (0%)
Other — $1,959 (2%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$47,413

$79,735

$114,236

$151,044

$176,047

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $176,047 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $47,413. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Engineering Geologist

153 · $115,389

Associate Oil and Gas Engineer

134 · $153,190

Associate Governmental Program Analyst

70 · $79,148

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)

49 · $177,090

Staff Services Manager I

31 · $102,304

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 3 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$80M —	737 —	$108,168 —
2024	$86.9M ▲ 8.7%	783 ▲ 6.2%	$110,990 ▲ 2.6%
2025	$92.2M ▲ 6.1%	813 ▲ 3.8%	$114,236 ▲ 2.9%

Record list

Employees

Page 2

Daniel Loera

Associate Oil and Gas Engineer/Conservation

2025 total comp

$143,509

Base pay: $143,159
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,509
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $14,298
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053783015
Salary Total: $11,889
Total Pay: $143,509

At Conservation, Daniel Loera serves as a Associate Oil and Gas Engineer. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $143,509. They are represented by R09.

Michael Mckinney

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$143,339

Base pay: $142,989
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,339
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381033756002
Salary Total: $12,093
Total Pay: $143,339

At Conservation, Michael Mckinney serves as a Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $143,339. They are represented by R09.

Jason Robert Patton

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$143,106

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $850
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,106
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Humboldt

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381023756104
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $143,106

Jason Robert Patton works as a Engineering Geologist for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Jason earned $143,106 in 2025. They are represented by R09.

Mark Davis

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$143,067

Base pay: $142,717
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,067
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Santa Barbara
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,166
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382043780591
Salary Total: $12,771
Total Pay: $143,067

Mark Davis is a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $143,067. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Michael Defrisco

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$143,029

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $423
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,029
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381023756029
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $143,029

Michael Defrisco holds the role of Engineering Geologist at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $143,029. They are represented by R09.

Patrick Brand

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,606

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sonoma

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381013756097
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,606

At Conservation, Patrick Brand serves as a Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $142,606. Union affiliation: R09.

William Burgess

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,606

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381043756007
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,606

William Burgess is a Engineering Geologist at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $142,606. Union affiliation: R09.

Christopher Gryszan

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,606

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381013756006
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,606

Christopher Gryszan holds the role of Engineering Geologist at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $142,606. Union affiliation: R09.

Thomas Key

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,606

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381013756094
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,606

Thomas Key is a Engineering Geologist at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $142,606. Union affiliation: R09.

Ron Rubin

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,606

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sonoma

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381043756103
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,606

At Conservation, Ron Rubin serves as a Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $142,606. They are represented by R09.

James Wilson

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,606

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Santa Barbara
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382043756091
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,606

James Wilson works as a Engineering Geologist for Conservation. Their status is full-time. James earned $142,606 in 2025. They are represented by R09.

Scott Sochar

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,581

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $325
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,581
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381023756006
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,581

Scott Sochar works as a Engineering Geologist for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Scott earned $142,581 in 2025. Union affiliation: R09.

Matt O'Neal

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,556

Base pay: $142,256
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,556
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381043756090
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,556

Matt O'Neal holds the role of Engineering Geologist at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $142,556. Their bargaining unit is R09.

Donald James

Associate Oil and Gas Engineer/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,459

Base pay: $142,109
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,459
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,864
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053783017
Salary Total: $12,478
Total Pay: $142,459

At Conservation, Donald James serves as a Associate Oil and Gas Engineer. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $142,459. Union affiliation: R09.

Charles Gomes

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2024 total comp

$142,332

Base pay: $141,732
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,332
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Santa Barbara
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,859
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382043756050
Salary Total: $11,859
Total Pay: $142,332

At Conservation, Charles Gomes serves as a Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $142,332. Their bargaining unit is R09.

Alexander Morelan

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$142,075

Base pay: $141,725
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,075
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $12,215
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381043756020
Salary Total: $11,849
Total Pay: $142,075

At Conservation, Alexander Morelan serves as a Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $142,075. They are represented by R09.

Eghosa Eguagie

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$141,706

Base pay: $124,792
Overtime: $16,564
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,706
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,112
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382083756001
Salary Total: $10,779
Total Pay: $141,706

Eghosa Eguagie works as a Engineering Geologist for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Eghosa earned $141,706 in 2025. Union affiliation: R09.

Jonathan Mistchenko

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$141,618

Base pay: $140,768
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $850
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,618
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,449
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5386003756009
Salary Total: $11,735
Total Pay: $141,618

Jonathan Mistchenko is a Engineering Geologist at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $141,618. They are represented by R09.

Sarah Reeves

Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$141,618

Base pay: $140,768
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $850
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,618
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,449
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5386003756097
Salary Total: $11,735
Total Pay: $141,618

At Conservation, Sarah Reeves serves as a Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,618. They are represented by R09.

Chuku Chuku

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2023 total comp

$141,576

Base pay: $138,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,167
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,576
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $13,158
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780599
Salary Total: $13,158
Total Pay: $141,576

Chuku Chuku works as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Chuku earned $141,576 in 2023. Their bargaining unit is S09.