Natural Resource Scientist 4 pay range
State of Washington · class code 516N
- Class code
- 516N
- Salary range
- 70
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Natural Resource Scientist 4 is $91,104 to $122,448 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 516N.
- 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 70 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 | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 | $98,064 | $100,488 | $102,996 | $105,612 | $108,228 | $110,952 | $113,736 | $116,544 | $119,460 | $122,448 |
| Monthly | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 | $8,172 | $8,374 | $8,583 | $8,801 | $9,019 | $9,246 | $9,478 | $9,712 | $9,955 | $10,204 |
| Hourly | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 | $46.97 | $48.13 | $49.33 | $50.58 | $51.83 | $53.14 | $54.47 | $55.82 | $57.21 | $58.64 |
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
In a natural resources agency, supervises a team of professional level scientific program staff with at least one Natural Resource Scientist 3 or serves as the as the agency’s designated expert in a specific scientific field.
Examples of the work
Defines the research project; consults with agency management to determine need, 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 installation, 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 service ...
Minimum qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree with major study in a natural science AND Six years of professional research work experience in a specialty field (a specialty field is designated for each position). A Master’s degree, without a PhD degree in a specialty field, will substitute for two years of the required experience, provided the field of major study was in the specialty field. A Ph.D. degree will substitute for three years of the required experience, provided the field of major study was in the specialty field. 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.