Salary distribution
Where Washington environmental scientists and specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $74,460 and $108,650, with a median of $88,670.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 25 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 4 | $82,799 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $113,674 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $86,100 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $161,341 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battelle Memorial Institute | Earth Scientist (Environmental Science) | 8 | $113,754 |
| State of Washington Department of Ecology | Environmental Specialist | 6 | $74,724 |
| Global Energy Monitor | Researcher | 1 | $72,800 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Risk Manager II | 1 | $84,739 |
| Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. | Associate EH&S Professional | 1 | $86,100 |
| KPMG LLP | Senior Associate | 1 | $104,000 |
| Sea-bird Electronics, Inc. | Technical Customer Support I | 1 | $75,000 |
| Gates Foundation | Senior Officer, Advocacy | 1 | $257,500 |
| University of Washington | Research Scientist/Engineer 2 | 1 | $96,876 |
| Rhodium Group, LLC | Research Analyst 2 | 1 | $115,509 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Researcher at Global Energy Monitor$72,800SeattleDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-483328
- Earth Scientist (Environmental Scientists) at Battelle Memorial Institute$112,000SeattleDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-472583
- Risk Manager II at Amazon.com Services LLC$84,739SeattleDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25328-432052
- Associate EH&S Professional at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.$86,100PullmanWage Level IIIDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-244879
- Environmental Specialist at State of Washington Department of Ecology$90,000LaceyDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-234366
- Post Doctorate Research Associate (Environmental Science) at Battelle Memorial Institute$90,598RichlandWage Level IDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-233726
- Earth Scientist (Environmental Science) at Battelle Memorial Institute$161,341RichlandWage Level IVDecided Jul 29, 2025I-200-25203-191653
- Earth Scientist (Environmental Science) at Battelle Memorial Institute$161,341SeattleWage Level IVDecided Jul 29, 2025I-200-25203-192537
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay by experience level in Washington
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists specialties in Washington
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Earth Scientist (Environmental Science) at a median of $132,673.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth Scientist (Environmental Science) | Battelle Memorial Institute | 5 | $132,673 |
| Environmental Specialist | State of Washington Department of Ecology | 3 | $75,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 25 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $107,920.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Battelle Memorial Institute | 14 | $107,920 |
| Government and public sector | State of Washington Department of Ecology | 6 | $74,724 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Gates Foundation | 2 | $158,255 |
| Education | University of Washington | 2 | $86,762 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 1 | $84,739 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- 02
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- 03
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- 04
Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- 05
Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- 06
Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.
- 07
Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- 08
Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.4%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for environmental scientists and specialists in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$98,950
Compare Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Washington is $88,670.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- The Washington median is +9.3% versus the BLS national figure of $81,159.
- What is the salary range for Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,170 and the 90th-percentile at $134,320, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Environmental Scientists and Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.4% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Environmental Scientists and Specialists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.