Environmental Specialist 1 pay range
State of Washington · class code 523E
- Class code
- 523E
- Salary range
- 40
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Environmental Specialist 1 is $43,836 to $58,392 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 523E.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 40 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $43,836 | $44,856 | $45,924 | $47,004 | $48,048 | $49,296 | $50,412 | $51,600 | $52,872 | $54,204 | $55,596 | $56,952 | $58,392 |
| Monthly | $3,653 | $3,738 | $3,827 | $3,917 | $4,004 | $4,108 | $4,201 | $4,300 | $4,406 | $4,517 | $4,633 | $4,746 | $4,866 |
| Hourly | $20.99 | $21.48 | $21.99 | $22.51 | $23.01 | $23.61 | $24.14 | $24.71 | $25.32 | $25.96 | $26.63 | $27.28 | $27.97 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Performs entry level professional assignments in environmental analysis, control or enforcement activities under direct or close supervision. Positions perform assignments in one or more of the following areas: 1) Environmental permit development and review; 2) Environmental inspections and/or enforcement activities; 3) Scientific studies, surveys and/or scientific analyses; 4) Technical assistance for grants, contracts, and loans; 5) Interpretation of policy and environmental technical assistance.
Examples of the work
Assists in the installation, operation and maintenance of environmental monitoring/sampling equipment; assists in performing field and office surveys and studies; performs surveillance and other special projects; Assists in routine repairs and calibrations of environmental monitoring/sampling equipment, in accordance with specifications and standard operating procedures; performs basic sampling data review for precision and accuracy; Assists in responding to complaints, routine inspections/surveillance and permit review to meet compliance requirements; Assists in the research and compilation of basic information for use in regulation or policy development; Enters and maintains basic database ...
Minimum qualifications
A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field. Equivalent education/experience. Note: Experience at or above the Environmental Technician level or equivalent will substitute, year for year, for education.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.
Nearby classes in Washington
Environmental Specialist 1 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $54,539 | $79,156 | $54,539 to $79,156 |
| New York | $66,951 | $85,138 | $66,951 to $85,138 |
| Ohio | $28.76 | $38.01 | $59,821 to $79,061 |
Each state publishes its own range for a classification with this exact title. Duties, grade structures and bargaining units differ between states, so read each class page before comparing.