California / Parks and Recreation / Environmental Scientist

Job-title file

Environmental Scientist

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

142 employees hold this title in Parks and Recreation. Median total compensation for the role is $82,084, above the department median of $27,643.

Employees: 142
Total payroll: $10.2M
Role median: $82,084
Agency median: $27,643
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

-$3,451$113,017+

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

How total compensation varies among the 142 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. Parks and Recreation pays a median base salary of $81,588 for this role, 23% below that figure — about the 25th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Parks and Recreation sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$65,350

$81,480

$106,510

$132,770

$161,910

Parks and Recreation median · $81,588

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 Parks and Recreation’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. Parks and Recreation’s median base salary is in line withthat national figure, about the 49th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$52,520

$64,490

$82,220

$107,970

$140,010

Parks and Recreation median · $81,588

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 124 of 142 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 Parks and Recreation is $82,084, 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 Parks and Recreation, the median of $82,084 ranks #18 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 4

Marisa Parish Hanson

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

$33,145

Base pay: $15,496
Overtime: $1,207
Other pay: $16,442
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $33,145
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,748
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5496350762905
Salary Total: $7,748
Total Pay: $33,145

Marisa Parish Hanson works as a Environmental Scientist for Parks and Recreation. Their status is full-time. Marisa earned $33,145 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Blake Hefner

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$31,799

Base pay: $31,589
Overtime: $211
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $31,799
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: T

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,418
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5495550762004
Salary Total: $4,263
Total Pay: $31,799

Blake Hefner works as a Environmental Scientist for Parks and Recreation. Their status is full-time. Blake earned $31,799 in 2025. They are represented by R10.

Lora Elsom Caldwell

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

$31,256

Base pay: $30,616
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $640
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $31,256
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: H

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5492600762902
Salary Total: $46
Total Pay: $31,256

Lora Elsom Caldwell works as a Environmental Scientist for Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. Lora earned $31,256 in 2024. They are represented by R10.

Nicholas Colbrunn

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$28,340

Base pay: $26,862
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,478
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $28,340
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sonoma
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,240
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5496600762902
Salary Total: $42
Total Pay: $28,340

Nicholas Colbrunn holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. In 2025, their total compensation was $28,340. They are represented by R10.

Joshua Rey

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

$26,673

Base pay: $26,662
Overtime: $11
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $26,673
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5495550762906
Salary Total: $5,037
Total Pay: $26,673

Joshua Rey is a Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $26,673. Union affiliation: R10.

Megan Edic

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$26,053

Base pay: $19,498
Overtime: $5,322
Other pay: $1,233
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $26,053
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,894
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499150762902
Salary Total: $40
Total Pay: $26,053

At Parks and Recreation, Megan Edic serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $26,053. They are represented by R10.

Shannon Mcneil

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$19,081

Base pay: $16,760
Overtime: $2,321
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $19,081
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,380
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499400762004
Salary Total: $8,380
Total Pay: $19,081

Shannon Mcneil is a Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $19,081. Union affiliation: R10.

William Abbott

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

$18,083

Base pay: $18,083
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $18,083
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,893
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499380762903
Salary Total: $40
Total Pay: $18,083

At Parks and Recreation, William Abbott serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work intermittent. Their 2024 pay totaled $18,083. Union affiliation: R10.

Carol Wilson

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$15,067

Base pay: $15,067
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $15,067
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5498200762903
Salary Total: $54
Total Pay: $15,067

At Parks and Recreation, Carol Wilson serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $15,067. They are represented by R10.

Madison Collier

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$12,623

Base pay: $12,623
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $12,623
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,370
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5495550762902
Salary Total: $30
Total Pay: $12,623

Madison Collier is a Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to $12,623. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Jessica Medrano

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

$9,356

Base pay: $9,047
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $309
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,356
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Orange
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499250762902
Salary Total: $39
Total Pay: $9,356

Jessica Medrano holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. In 2024, their total compensation was $9,356. They are represented by R10.

Lisa Gonzales-Kramer

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2023 total comp

$5,133

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $5,133
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $5,133
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499400762902
Salary Total: $46
Total Pay: $5,133

Lisa Gonzales-Kramer is a Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. They work intermittent. 2023 total compensation came to $5,133. Union affiliation: R10.

William Van Wijnen

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2023 total comp

$4,185

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,185
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $4,185
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,037
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5498630762902
Salary Total: $29
Total Pay: $4,185

William Van Wijnen works as a Environmental Scientist for Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. William earned $4,185 in 2023. They are represented by R10.

Robert Degen

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2023 total comp

$3,509

Base pay: $3,509
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $3,509
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Tuolumne
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,289
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5497300762902
Salary Total: $31
Total Pay: $3,509

Robert Degen is a Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. They work intermittent. 2023 total compensation came to $3,509. Union affiliation: R10.

Mariela Martinez

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$3,320

Base pay: $2,514
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $805
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $3,320
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,370
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5495540762902
Salary Total: $30
Total Pay: $3,320

At Parks and Recreation, Mariela Martinez serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $3,320. They are represented by R10.

Chris Deidrick

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2023 total comp

$1,738

Base pay: $1,738
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $1,738
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5497080762903
Salary Total: $46
Total Pay: $1,738

At Parks and Recreation, Chris Deidrick serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work intermittent. Their 2023 pay totaled $1,738. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Michael Puzzo

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2023 total comp

$915

Base pay: $915
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $915
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499400762902
Salary Total: $46
Total Pay: $915

Michael Puzzo works as a Environmental Scientist for Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. Michael earned $915 in 2023. Union affiliation: R10.

Danny Harthun

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

$783

Base pay: $783
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $783
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Tuolumne
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,289
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5497300762902
Salary Total: $31
Total Pay: $783

Danny Harthun holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. In 2024, their total compensation was $783. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Austin Parker

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

$731

Base pay: $731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $731
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,566
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499150762902
Salary Total: $37
Total Pay: $731

At Parks and Recreation, Austin Parker serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work intermittent. Their 2025 pay totaled $731. Union affiliation: R10.

Haddee Hammoud

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2023 total comp

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

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,145
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499540762001
Salary Total: $4,145

At Parks and Recreation, Haddee Hammoud serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $0. They are represented by R10.

Stephen Warren Underwood

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2025 total comp

-$2,663

Base pay: -$2,663
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: -$2,663
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Humboldt

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,925
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5496350762903
Salary Total: $46
Total Pay: -$2,663

Stephen Warren Underwood is a Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to -$2,663. They are represented by R10.

April Randol

Environmental Scientist/Parks and Recreation

2024 total comp

-$3,451

Base pay: -$6,312
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,861
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: -$3,451
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Ventura
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,145
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5499100762902
Salary Total: $24
Total Pay: -$3,451

April Randol holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Parks and Recreation. Their status is intermittent. In 2024, their total compensation was -$3,451. They are represented by R10.