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 1

Matthew Buffleben

C.E.A./Conservation

2023 total comp

$193,146

Base pay: $183,698
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $9,448
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $193,146
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: M01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,573
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382017500694
Salary Total: $15,573
Total Pay: $193,146

Matthew Buffleben works as a C.E.A. for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Matthew earned $193,146 in 2023. They are represented by M01.

Elizabeth Yura

C.E.A./Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,914

Base pay: $189,194
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,720
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,914
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: M01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,710
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382017500003
Salary Total: $16,209
Total Pay: $192,914

Elizabeth Yura is a C.E.A. at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $192,914. Union affiliation: M01.

Janel Harris

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Specialist)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382013727002
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

Janel Harris holds the role of Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Specialist) at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $192,337. Union affiliation: R09.

Abdel Zellou

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Specialist)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381053727001
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

Abdel Zellou is a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Specialist) at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $192,337. Union affiliation: R09.

Wassim Estwani

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382023780597
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

Wassim Estwani works as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Wassim earned $192,337 in 2025. Union affiliation: S09.

Wayne Janssen

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780596
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

At Conservation, Wayne Janssen serves as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor). They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $192,337. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Charles O'Brien

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780597
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

At Conservation, Charles O'Brien serves as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor). They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $192,337. They are represented by S09.

Mathew Stikes

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780594
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

Mathew Stikes holds the role of Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $192,337. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Daniel Woldemariam

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780590
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

At Conservation, Daniel Woldemariam serves as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor). They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $192,337. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Bruce Weihs

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,337

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,337
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Ventura
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382033780593
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,337

At Conservation, Bruce Weihs serves as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor). They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $192,337. They are represented by S09.

David Slayter

Supervising Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,287

Base pay: $183,123
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $9,164
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,287
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,724
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381043748591
Salary Total: $15,252
Total Pay: $192,287

At Conservation, David Slayter serves as a Supervising Engineering Geologist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $192,287. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Olusegun Oladimeji

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$192,237

Base pay: $191,987
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $192,237
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780603
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $192,237

Olusegun Oladimeji is a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $192,237. They are represented by S09.

Jeanette Hand

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$191,152

Base pay: $190,802
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,152
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382013780594
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $191,152

Jeanette Hand holds the role of Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $191,152. They are represented by S09.

Clayton Haas

C.E.A./Conservation

2025 total comp

$191,067

Base pay: $190,467
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,067
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: M01
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $17,016
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5384037500692
Salary Total: $16,506
Total Pay: $191,067

Clayton Haas holds the role of C.E.A. at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $191,067. Their bargaining unit is M01.

Dhirendra Nath

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$190,860

Base pay: $190,510
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,860
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053780592
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $190,860

Dhirendra Nath holds the role of Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $190,860. They are represented by S09.

Gabriel Tiffany

Chief Deputy Director/Conservation

2025 total comp

$190,840

Base pay: $187,395
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,445
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,840
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: E97
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,091
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5384001022692
Salary Total: $15,608
Total Pay: $190,840

Gabriel Tiffany holds the role of Chief Deputy Director at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $190,840. Their bargaining unit is E97.

Jon Iverson

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2024 total comp

$190,462

Base pay: $189,862
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,462
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Santa Barbara
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,005
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382043780591
Salary Total: $16,005
Total Pay: $190,462

Jon Iverson holds the role of Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $190,462. Their bargaining unit is S09.

May Soe

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2024 total comp

$190,462

Base pay: $189,862
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,462
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: Z

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,005
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382013780599
Salary Total: $16,005
Total Pay: $190,462

At Conservation, May Soe serves as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor). They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $190,462. Union affiliation: S09.

Eric Morita

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2024 total comp

$190,362

Base pay: $169,687
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $20,675
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,362
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,005
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382013780044
Salary Total: $16,005
Total Pay: $190,362

Eric Morita is a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $190,362. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Timothy Dawson

Supervising Engineering Geologist/Conservation

2025 total comp

$190,333

Base pay: $189,983
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,333
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,724
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5381023748591
Salary Total: $15,974
Total Pay: $190,333

Timothy Dawson is a Supervising Engineering Geologist at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $190,333. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Cameron Campbell

Supervising Oil and Gas Engineer/Conservation

2025 total comp

$189,616

Base pay: $189,266
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $189,616
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $17,474
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053777001
Salary Total: $16,142
Total Pay: $189,616

Cameron Campbell is a Supervising Oil and Gas Engineer at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $189,616. Union affiliation: S09.

Ernest Mbia

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$189,102

Base pay: $188,252
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $850
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $189,102
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382023780594
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $189,102

Ernest Mbia works as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Ernest earned $189,102 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is S09.

Amir Faghani

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$188,438

Base pay: $188,088
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $188,438
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382013780001
Salary Total: $15,990
Total Pay: $188,438

At Conservation, Amir Faghani serves as a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor). They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $188,438. They are represented by S09.

Allan Koch

Supervising Oil and Gas Engineer/Conservation

2025 total comp

$188,354

Base pay: $188,004
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $188,354
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Kern
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,880
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382053777591
Salary Total: $16,374
Total Pay: $188,354

At Conservation, Allan Koch serves as a Supervising Oil and Gas Engineer. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $188,354. Union affiliation: S09.

Frederick Walker

Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor)/Conservation

2025 total comp

$188,200

Base pay: $187,850
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $188,200
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S09
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,485
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382023780596
Salary Total: $14,469
Total Pay: $188,200

Frederick Walker is a Senior Oil and Gas Engineer (Supervisor) at Conservation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $188,200. They are represented by S09.

Caryn Craig

Attorney IV/Conservation

2025 total comp

$186,501

Base pay: $186,151
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $186,501
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,096
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5384015780091
Salary Total: $15,352
Total Pay: $186,501

Caryn Craig works as a Attorney IV for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Caryn earned $186,501 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Ted Lindstrom

Attorney IV/Conservation

2025 total comp

$186,501

Base pay: $186,151
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $350
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $186,501
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R02
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,096
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5384015780001
Salary Total: $15,352
Total Pay: $186,501

At Conservation, Ted Lindstrom serves as a Attorney IV. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $186,501. Their bargaining unit is R02.

Lindsey Miller

C.E.A./Conservation

2025 total comp

$185,444

Base pay: $181,724
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,720
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $185,444
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: M01
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $15,920
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382017500694
Salary Total: $15,442
Total Pay: $185,444

Lindsey Miller works as a C.E.A. for Conservation. Their status is full-time. Lindsey earned $185,444 in 2025. They are represented by M01.

Krysty Emery

Environmental Program Manager II/Conservation

2025 total comp

$185,013

Base pay: $184,713
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $185,013
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: M10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $16,382
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5382010769001
Salary Total: $16,218
Total Pay: $185,013

Krysty Emery holds the role of Environmental Program Manager II at Conservation. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $185,013. Union affiliation: M10.