New Jersey / Environmental Protection

Agency file

Environmental Protection

Source file: New Jersey — YourMoney State Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

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

In 2024, this agency had 1,795 employees with median total compensation of $55,939; the highest distinct record was $226,194.

Year: 2024
Total payroll: $92.3M
Employees: 1,795
Median total: $55,939
Highest record: $226,194

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$0$148,114+

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

How 2024 total compensation is spread across the 1,795 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($55,939) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $47,617 (93%)
Overtime — $1,835 (4%)
Other — $1,989 (4%)
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

$280

$4,900

$55,939

$83,176

$109,895

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $109,895 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $280. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Not Reported

358 · $578

Special Services

322 · $10,132

Environmental Specialist 2

161 · $69,863

Environmental Specialist 3

69 · $83,581

St Prk Police Officer

40 · $135,669

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 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$85.3M —	1,944 —	$46,492 —
2024	$92.3M ▲ 8.2%	1,795 ▼ 7.7%	$55,939 ▲ 20.3%

Record list

Employees

Page 3

Grace Vasquez

Environmental Specialist 2/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$87,093

Sub-department: Science , Energy and Air Quality
Base pay: $85,569
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,524
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,093
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Vasquez, Grace E
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 124661
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $89,145
Year-to-Date Earnings: $87,093

Grace Vasquez holds the role of Environmental Specialist 2 at Environmental Protection within Science , Energy and Air Quality. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $87,093. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Brian Mcdonald

Assistant Regional Forester/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$87,093

Sub-department: Parks & Forestry
Base pay: $85,569
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,524
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,093
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Mcdonald, Brian D
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 147333
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $89,145
Year-to-Date Earnings: $87,093

At Environmental Protection, Brian Mcdonald serves as a Assistant Regional Forester within Parks & Forestry. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $87,093. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Magda Usarek-Witek

Geographic Information Systems Specialist 2/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$87,086

Sub-department: Office of the Commissioner
Base pay: $85,574
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,511
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,086
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Usarek-Witek, Magda
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 126249
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $88,494
Year-to-Date Earnings: $87,086

Magda Usarek-Witek is a Geographic Information Systems Specialist 2 at Environmental Protection within Office of the Commissioner. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $87,086. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

John Earlin

Section Forest Firewarden/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$86,970

Sub-department: Parks & Forestry
Base pay: $64,042
Overtime: $21,668
Other pay: $1,260
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,970
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Earlin, John
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 113253
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $67,633
Year-to-Date Earnings: $86,970

John Earlin works as a Section Forest Firewarden for Environmental Protection within Parks & Forestry. Their hire date on record is null. John earned $86,970 in 2024. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Clare Helms

Environmental Engineer 2/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$86,747

Sub-department: Enforcement
Base pay: $85,223
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,524
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,747
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Helms, Clare
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 154389
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $89,145
Year-to-Date Earnings: $86,747

At Environmental Protection, Clare Helms serves as a Environmental Engineer 2 within Enforcement. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $86,747. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

William Reilly

Geolgst 2/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$86,698

Sub-department: Site Remediation
Base pay: $73,540
Overtime: $12,331
Other pay: $827
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,698
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Reilly, William J
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 164171
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $77,090
Year-to-Date Earnings: $86,698

William Reilly is a Geolgst 2 at Environmental Protection within Site Remediation. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $86,698. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Eric Mcdermott

Environmental Specialist 3/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$86,694

Sub-department: Enforcement
Base pay: $85,196
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,498
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,694
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Mcdermott, Eric
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 130359
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $91,984
Year-to-Date Earnings: $86,694

Eric Mcdermott holds the role of Environmental Specialist 3 at Environmental Protection within Enforcement. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $86,694. Union affiliation: Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R.

Nicole Kalaigian

Research Scientist 2/Environmental Protection

2024 total comp

$86,479

Sub-department: Site Remediation
Base pay: $85,996
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $483
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,479
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Kalaigian, Nicole C
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 151859
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $97,654
Year-to-Date Earnings: $86,479

Nicole Kalaigian is a Research Scientist 2 at Environmental Protection within Site Remediation. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $86,479. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.