California / Water Resources Control Board / Environmental Scientist

Job-title file

Environmental Scientist

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

422 employees hold this title in Water Resources Control Board. Median total compensation for the role is $83,105, below the department median of $110,246.

Employees: 422
Total payroll: $32.2M
Role median: $83,105
Agency median: $110,246
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$110,935+

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

How total compensation varies among the 422 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. Water Resources Control Board pays a median base salary of $83,400 for this role, 22% below that figure — about the 27th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Water Resources Control Board sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$65,350

$81,480

$106,510

$132,770

$161,910

Water Resources Control Board median · $83,400

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 Water Resources Control Board’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. Water Resources Control Board’s median base salary is 1% above that national figure, about the 51st percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$52,520

$64,490

$82,220

$107,970

$140,010

Water Resources Control Board median · $83,400

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 394 of 422 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 Water Resources Control Board is $83,105, 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 Water Resources Control Board, the median of $83,105 ranks #16 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 1

Shannon Strong

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$99,792

Base pay: $99,342
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $450
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,792
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sonoma
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,673
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801100762057
Salary Total: $8,369
Total Pay: $99,792

Shannon Strong is a Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $99,792. They are represented by R10.

Devin Jokerst

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$99,755

Base pay: $99,158
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $596
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,755
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,623
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802500762239
Salary Total: $8,321
Total Pay: $99,755

Devin Jokerst is a Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $99,755. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Lisa Brown-Honma

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$99,743

Base pay: $98,743
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,743
Employment type: Part-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801900762010
Salary Total: $8,431
Total Pay: $99,743

At Water Resources Control Board, Lisa Brown-Honma serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work part-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $99,743. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Toni Marshall

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$99,494

Base pay: $98,994
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,494
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802700762012
Salary Total: $8,414
Total Pay: $99,494

Toni Marshall holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $99,494. Union affiliation: R10.

Shuka Rastegarpour

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2023 total comp

$99,320

Base pay: $95,112
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,208
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $99,320
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802700762004
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $99,320

Shuka Rastegarpour works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Shuka earned $99,320 in 2023. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Harihar Nepal

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2024 total comp

$98,830

Base pay: $98,280
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $550
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,830
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801500762157
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $98,830

Harihar Nepal holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $98,830. Union affiliation: R10.

Bethany Soto

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$97,718

Base pay: $97,218
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,718
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801550762008
Salary Total: $8,321
Total Pay: $97,718

At Water Resources Control Board, Bethany Soto serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $97,718. They are represented by R10.

Jonathan Pham

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$97,466

Base pay: $96,966
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,466
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: H

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,673
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8803000762077
Salary Total: $8,369
Total Pay: $97,466

At Water Resources Control Board, Jonathan Pham serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $97,466. Union affiliation: R10.

Wilhelmina Chon

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$97,236

Base pay: $96,736
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $97,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,480
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8803000762048
Salary Total: $8,183
Total Pay: $97,236

At Water Resources Control Board, Wilhelmina Chon serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $97,236. They are represented by R10.

Jose Ayala

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$96,707

Base pay: $96,207
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,707
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,261
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8803000762058
Salary Total: $7,972
Total Pay: $96,707

At Water Resources Control Board, Jose Ayala serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $96,707. They are represented by R10.

Chi-Hai Hk Duffy

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$96,610

Base pay: $94,992
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,618
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,610
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,260
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8805500762060
Salary Total: $7,971
Total Pay: $96,610

Chi-Hai Hk Duffy works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Chi-Hai earned $96,610 in 2025. Union affiliation: R10.

Alexandra Rosado

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$96,600

Base pay: $96,150
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $450
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,600
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,673
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802500762201
Salary Total: $8,369
Total Pay: $96,600

Alexandra Rosado works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Alexandra earned $96,600 in 2025. They are represented by R10.

Kathryn Mcneill

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$96,058

Base pay: $95,558
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $96,058
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801300762007
Salary Total: $8,077
Total Pay: $96,058

At Water Resources Control Board, Kathryn Mcneill serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $96,058. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Anne Snider

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$95,891

Base pay: $93,444
Overtime: $1,997
Other pay: $450
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,891
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802600762021
Salary Total: $8,995
Total Pay: $95,891

Anne Snider works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Anne earned $95,891 in 2025. They are represented by R10.

Monica Bueno

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$95,781

Base pay: $95,598
Overtime: $133
Other pay: $50
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,781
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sonoma
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,106
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801150762007
Salary Total: $8,367
Total Pay: $95,781

Monica Bueno is a Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $95,781. They are represented by R10.

Kelly Huck

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2024 total comp

$95,753

Base pay: $95,253
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,753
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: El Dorado
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,877
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801600762034
Salary Total: $8,467
Total Pay: $95,753

Kelly Huck is a Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $95,753. Union affiliation: R10.

Bobbi Valencia

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2023 total comp

$95,712

Base pay: $95,112
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,712
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Los Angeles
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801400762030
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $95,712

Bobbi Valencia works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Bobbi earned $95,712 in 2023. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Celene Udasco

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$95,706

Base pay: $95,206
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,706
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,312
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802500762228
Salary Total: $8,021
Total Pay: $95,706

Celene Udasco holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $95,706. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Rebecca Hipp

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$95,492

Base pay: $94,992
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,492
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,260
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801550762013
Salary Total: $7,971
Total Pay: $95,492

Rebecca Hipp works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Rebecca earned $95,492 in 2025. They are represented by R10.

John Inman Iv

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$95,062

Base pay: $94,612
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $450
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,062
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,260
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802500762150
Salary Total: $7,971
Total Pay: $95,062

John Inman Iv works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. John earned $95,062 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Rebecca Nordenholt

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2023 total comp

$94,991

Base pay: $94,391
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,991
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801200762055
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $94,991

At Water Resources Control Board, Rebecca Nordenholt serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $94,991. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Michelle Tang

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2023 total comp

$94,881

Base pay: $94,031
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $850
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,881
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: 8802700762014
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $94,881

At Water Resources Control Board, Michelle Tang serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $94,881. They are represented by R10.

Carol Perkins

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2024 total comp

$94,748

Base pay: $94,148
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,748
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,380
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802400762068
Salary Total: $8,380
Total Pay: $94,748

At Water Resources Control Board, Carol Perkins serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $94,748. Union affiliation: R10.

Morgan Williams

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$94,705

Base pay: $94,205
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,705
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Alameda
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,261
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801200762008
Salary Total: $8,222
Total Pay: $94,705

Morgan Williams works as a Environmental Scientist for Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. Morgan earned $94,705 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Selina Cole

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2023 total comp

$94,631

Base pay: $94,031
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,631
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,926
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801500762043
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $94,631

Selina Cole holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $94,631. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Kaete King

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$94,624

Base pay: $94,124
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,624
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sonoma
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,321
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801100762022
Salary Total: $7,983
Total Pay: $94,624

Kaete King is a Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $94,624. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Ryan Ham

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$94,352

Base pay: $93,852
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,352
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,260
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8802500762232
Salary Total: $7,971
Total Pay: $94,352

At Water Resources Control Board, Ryan Ham serves as a Environmental Scientist. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $94,352. Their bargaining unit is R10.

Jennifer Callahan

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2025 total comp

$94,352

Base pay: $93,852
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,352
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R10
Work county: El Dorado
Middle name: V

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,260
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 8801600762003
Salary Total: $7,971
Total Pay: $94,352

Jennifer Callahan is a Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $94,352. Union affiliation: R10.

Christopher Carr

Environmental Scientist/Water Resources Control Board

2023 total comp

$94,306

Base pay: $94,031
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $275
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,306
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: 8803000762014
Salary Total: $7,926
Total Pay: $94,306

Christopher Carr holds the role of Environmental Scientist at Water Resources Control Board. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $94,306. Union affiliation: R10.