Natural Resource Scientist 3 pay range
State of Washington · class code 516M
- Class code
- 516M
- Salary range
- 62
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Natural Resource Scientist 3 is $74,748 to $100,488 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 516M.
- 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 62 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 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 | $98,064 | $100,488 |
| Monthly | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 | $8,172 | $8,374 |
| Hourly | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 | $46.97 | $48.13 |
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 natural resource research requiring ingenuity in the application of techniques where precedents are limited and objectives and scope are only broadly defined. May coordinate and implement natural resource management practices resulting from research findings.
Examples of the work
Defines the research project; consults with agency management to determine needs, goals and objectives; Conducts surveys, analyzes and records field conditions; Selects tree, plant, or ecological system and sets the parameters of the study, including environmental manipulations or treatments involved; Develops and defines the record keeping and reporting procedures; Trains and supervises other personnel in survey, sample plot installations, field evaluation and reporting work; Gathers and evaluates sample data; formulates and justifies conclusions and recommendations; Writes reports; Analyzes and applies related research work conducted by others in specialty field; Provides consultative serv ...
Minimum qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree with major study in a natural science AND Four years-professional research work experience in a specific specialty field (the specialty field is designated for each position). A Master’s degree will substitute for two years and a Ph.D. degree will substitute for all of the required experience, provided the field of major study was in the specific specialty. Equivalent education/experience.
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.