California / Department Resources Recycle/Recvry / Environmental Scientist

Job-title file

Environmental Scientist

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

223 employees hold this title in Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Median total compensation for the role is $78,254, below the department median of $88,492.

Employees: 223
Total payroll: $16.6M
Role median: $78,254
Agency median: $88,492
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$25$111,081+

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

How total compensation varies among the 223 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Environmental Scientist pay vs. California

Across all employers in California, the median wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — about 12,490 people — is $106,510. Department Resources Recycle/Recvry pays a median base salary of $78,458 for this role, 26% below that figure — about the 22nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department Resources Recycle/Recvry sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$65,350

$81,480

$106,510

$132,770

$161,910

Department Resources Recycle/Recvry median · $78,458

The bar is the range of annual wages for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health across every employer in California, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department Resources Recycle/Recvry’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — about 89,250 people — is $82,220. Department Resources Recycle/Recvry’s median base salary is 5% below that national figure, about the 45th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$52,520

$64,490

$82,220

$107,970

$140,010

Department Resources Recycle/Recvry median · $78,458

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the California range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 211 of 223 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry is $78,254, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across California

Environmental Scientist is held in 31 California departments. In Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, the median of $78,254 ranks #24 of 31.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Sierra Nevada Conservancy

$102,297 · 1

State Energy Res Cons&Dev Com

$98,960 · 1

Office of Emergency Services

$96,321 · 1

Consumer Affairs

$90,775 · 4

Forestry and Fire Protection

$90,588 · 46

CA Coastal Commission

$87,913 · 3

Department of Public Health

$87,243 · 75

Office of Secty Envirmtl Protect

$87,116 · 11

Department of Cannabis Control

$86,556 · 86

CA. Tahoe Conservancy

$86,419 · 3

Water Resources

$86,326 · 198

Food and Agriculture

$84,961 · 325

Median total compensation for the Environmental Scientist role in other Californiadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Environmental Scientist beyond California

This role is reported in 5 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $82,633 ranks #3 of 5. See Environmental Scientist across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

New York Public Authorities

$124,539 · 13

Utah

$94,585 · 332

Rhode Island

$22,349 · 127

City of Philadelphia

$18,294 · 13

Median total compensation for comparable Environmental Scientistroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 6

Lynn Smith

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2024 total comp

$37,194

Base pay: $35,307
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,887
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $37,194
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358750762001
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $37,194

Lynn Smith holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $37,194. Union affiliation: R10.

Traci Anne Landberg

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2024 total comp

$36,740

Base pay: $7,926
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $28,814
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,740
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357900762920
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $36,740

Traci Anne Landberg works as a Environmental Scientist for Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. Traci earned $36,740 in 2024. Union affiliation: R10.

Nimra Mazher

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$35,672

Base pay: $29,365
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,306
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,672
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,638
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358770762003
Salary Total: $5,441
Total Pay: $35,672

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Nimra Mazher serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $35,672. They are represented by R10.

Alessandra Arif

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$35,165

Base pay: $31,128
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,037
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,165
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,188
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8351310762004
Salary Total: $5,188
Total Pay: $35,165

Alessandra Arif is a Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $35,165. They are represented by R10.

Camille King

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$34,790

Base pay: $34,690
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $100
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,790
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,796
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358700762004
Salary Total: $6,558
Total Pay: $34,790

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Camille King serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $34,790. Union affiliation: R10.

Henry Stowell

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$33,277

Base pay: $33,127
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $150
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $33,277
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,796
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358700762005
Salary Total: $6,558
Total Pay: $33,277

Henry Stowell works as a Environmental Scientist for Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. Henry earned $33,277 in 2025. They are represented by R10.

Alexandra Zhu

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$29,556

Base pay: $28,062
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,494
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $29,556
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,188
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358570762006
Salary Total: $5,188
Total Pay: $29,556

Alexandra Zhu works as a Environmental Scientist for Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. Alexandra earned $29,556 in 2025. Union affiliation: R10.

Maile Sasaki

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$29,276

Base pay: $29,126
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $150
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $29,276
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,796
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358700762006
Salary Total: $6,558
Total Pay: $29,276

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Maile Sasaki serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $29,276. They are represented by R10.

Aaron Page

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2023 total comp

$28,856

Base pay: $28,146
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $710
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $28,856
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,029
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358780762006
Salary Total: $7,029
Total Pay: $28,856

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Aaron Page serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $28,856. They are represented by R10.

Makenzie Michaels

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2023 total comp

$28,826

Base pay: $26,471
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,355
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $28,826
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,145
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358630762002
Salary Total: $4,145
Total Pay: $28,826

Makenzie Michaels holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $28,826. They are represented by R10.

Alyssa Sanchez

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$27,884

Base pay: $27,684
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $200
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,884
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,666
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358630762006
Salary Total: $7,398
Total Pay: $27,884

Alyssa Sanchez is a Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $27,884. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Trevor Clark

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2023 total comp

$27,595

Base pay: $25,432
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,163
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,595
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,289
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358790762005
Salary Total: $5,289
Total Pay: $27,595

Trevor Clark is a Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $27,595. They are represented by R10.

Tesa Winters

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$25,250

Base pay: $24,700
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $550
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $25,250
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,370
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358770762007
Salary Total: $5,182
Total Pay: $25,250

Tesa Winters holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $25,250. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Jessica Geltz

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$23,106

Base pay: $21,677
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,429
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $23,106
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,188
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358620762005
Salary Total: $5,188
Total Pay: $23,106

Jessica Geltz holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $23,106. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Robert Contreras

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2024 total comp

$21,237

Base pay: $14,537
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,700
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $21,237
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,029
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357760762006
Salary Total: $7,029
Total Pay: $21,237

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Robert Contreras serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $21,237. They are represented by R10.

Shanthi Sree Kanneganti

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$19,434

Base pay: $19,384
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $50
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $19,434
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,796
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357750762006
Salary Total: $6,558
Total Pay: $19,434

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Shanthi Sree Kanneganti serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $19,434. Union affiliation: R10.

Brian Helmowski

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2024 total comp

$19,190

Base pay: $17,620
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,571
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $19,190
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357750762002
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $19,190

Brian Helmowski holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $19,190. Union affiliation: R10.

Leyna Tran

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$18,485

Base pay: $18,435
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $50
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $18,485
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: H

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,333
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357620762018
Salary Total: $5,819
Total Pay: $18,485

Leyna Tran works as a Environmental Scientist for Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. Leyna earned $18,485 in 2025. Union affiliation: R10.

Maya Burgess

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$14,425

Base pay: $14,375
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $50
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,425
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,370
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357500762005
Salary Total: $5,182
Total Pay: $14,425

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Maya Burgess serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $14,425. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Roberta Goldenpenny

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2023 total comp

$8,707

Base pay: $7,349
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,358
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,707
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,029
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357640762012
Salary Total: $7,029
Total Pay: $8,707

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Roberta Goldenpenny serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $8,707. Union affiliation: R10.

Nicholas Oliver

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2023 total comp

$8,686

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $8,686
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,686
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357760762001
Salary Total: $6,694
Total Pay: $7,843

Nicholas Oliver holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $8,686. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Karina Cruz

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$6,786

Base pay: $6,786
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $6,786
Employment type: Part-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,418
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8357620762015
Salary Total: $2,132
Total Pay: $6,786

Karina Cruz works as a Environmental Scientist for Department Resources Recycle/Recvry. Their status is part-time. Karina earned $6,786 in 2025. Union affiliation: R10.

Elizabeth Hernandez

Environmental Scientist/Department Resources Recycle/Recvry

2025 total comp

$25

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $25
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $25
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8358660762003
Salary Total: $5,037
Total Pay: $25

At Department Resources Recycle/Recvry, Elizabeth Hernandez serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $25. They are represented by R10.