Environmental Specialist 4 pay range
State of Washington · class code 523H
- Class code
- 523H
- Salary range
- 59
- Pay unit
- Year
- Alternate ranges
- 2
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Environmental Specialist 4 is $69,348 to $93,288 per year, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 523H.
- The plan defines 2 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which bargaining unit covers the position.
- 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 59 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 | $69,348 | $71,136 | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 |
| Monthly | $5,779 | $5,928 | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 |
| Hourly | $33.21 | $34.07 | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Alternate ranges
| Bargaining unit | Minimum | Maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| As listed | $69,348 | $93,288 | per year |
| Teamsters | $69,348 | $93,288 | per year |
The listing prints a separate range for classes covered by a bargaining agreement. Which one applies depends on the employee's unit.
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
Serves as a senior environmental section specialist in program specific environmental laws, environmental regulations, and related activities in order to protect, preserve, and enhance air, land, and water resources; or serves as a senior environmental specialist in specific environmental public health programs in order to protect public health due to environmental factors. In either option, positions make decisions involving multiple stakeholders and that have significant public health, environmental protection, economic, and political consequences. Assigned areas of responsibility involve environmental assessments and protection actions that regularly require evaluation and coordination of interrelated environmental impacts on multiple specialty areas; OR Manages all the environmental regulatory and analyses functions of an agency.
Examples of the work
Writes federal permits and determines application of federal regulations; Makes recommendations and determinations on environmental issues where there are no established standards or practices; Makes decisions regarding environment, public health and safety and determines appropriate responses; Develops innovative approaches to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations; Conducts scientific evaluation of programs and initiatives; conducts economic and market analyses; Interpret and provide guidance on environmental laws, policies, rulemaking and audit findings to regulated communities and stakeholders; Serves in the teaching, training and mentoring of lower level staff; Respon ...
Minimum qualifications
A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and five years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above. Additional qualifying experience 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 4 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $73,706 | $109,307 | $73,706 to $109,307 |
| New York | $127,507 | $160,911 | $127,507 to $160,911 |
| Ohio | $38.01 | $55.80 | $79,061 to $116,064 |
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.