Environmental Geologist Jobs in California
Environmental Geologist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in site remediation, hazardous waste compliance, and water resources work at every level from entry-level field technician to senior project manager. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento, where firms like Arcadis, Stantec, and Chevron maintain significant California operations and hire environmental geologists on a rolling basis. Soil and groundwater contamination assessment, CEQA compliance support, and Phase I and II environmental site assessments are consistently the most in-demand specialties across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Environmental Geologist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 22+ Environmental Geologist jobs











About Us
At Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose, responsibility and real-world impact.
“For Planet and Progress” is our north star that guides everything we do. We believe environmental responsibility and human progress are interconnected, interwoven and international. Our scientists, engineers, field teams, consultants and professionals collaborate across disciplines and geographies, guiding industries and governments, ensuring that communities and environments thrive.
When you join us, you’re not just forging a career, you’re joining a movement. A movement for better thinking, smarter solutions and lasting impact.
Together, we will advance our way of life and protect the integrity of our environment every step of the way.
A Day in the Life
You will represent the firm with the highest level of professionalism when working with clients, staff, and teaming partners. You will act as a strategic leader, technical expert, and mentor - supporting project success, strengthening client relationships, and contributing to the firm’s long‑term growth. You will lead efforts to obtain new opportunities within site assessment and remediation projects from early strategies through execution, ensuring that all deliverables are high quality, well organized, and ready for client delivery.
While the position may be performed remotely, the ideal candidate will be based in California and will bring contacts within the industry and knowledge of California and/or other western states, and specific regulatory and environmental expertise.
The compensation range for this role is $120,000 to $150,000 commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location.
Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Lead team growth through outreach to potential clients and proposal preparation
- Collaborate with client contacts, staff geologists and engineers, regulatory specialists, and agency partners.
- Support client retention by fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment. Ensure the operational effectiveness, productivity, and profitability of both your work and the team you lead.
Proposal Leadership and Business Development
- Play a key role in securing $1M–$2M in new annual work through competitive pursuits, sole‑source opportunities, on‑call contracts, and strategic teaming arrangements.
- Lead proposal efforts for projects of all sizes, including strategy development, teaming decisions, and win themes.
- Guide proposal managers on proposal structure, approach narratives, cover letters, scopes of work, and qualifications sections.
- Ensure proposal schedules, budgets, and deliverables are accurate, compliant, and submitted on time.
- Lead and prepare teams for proposal interviews. Support broader business development efforts by evaluating new leads and cultivating long‑term client and partner relationships.
Project Execution
- Conduct project management for obtained new projects and ensure all work meets the firm’s quality standards.
- Delegate tasks effectively, provide direction, and ensure work stays within project constraints.
- Stay current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices.
- Work both independently and collaboratively with the core leadership team. Perform additional duties as needed to support project and company success.
Your Expertise and Skills
The Principal Professional is a recognized technical authority and strategic leader, responsible for regulatory certainty, project success, and long-term client trust. These requirements reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities that help you do your best work here.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in geology, engineering, environmental science, or related field.
- 15+ years of relevant professional consulting experience (12+ with a Master’s), including public sector experience.
- Proven consulting experience and success as a Project Manager overseeing completion of technical studies and documents within schedule and budget.
- Experience serving as Project Manager serving as the senior client representative and owning responsibility for consulting products and services.
- Demonstrated success in proposal leadership, teaming for sole-source and competitive pursuits.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to oversee and provide quality assurance for complex technical documents, as well as make presentations, including interviews for competitive proposals.
- Strong familiarity with California and other western state regulations, industry standards, and Federal, State and local procurement processes.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams while also operating independently. Willingness and ability to travel locally as needed.
#INDONT
#LI-LK1
Onterris is a leading global environmental solutions company partnering with organizations to solve complex challenges where environmental pressures, regulatory expectations and operational risks intersect. Guided by our mission to advance the way of life without compromising the integrity of our environment, we believe environmental responsibility and human progress are fundamentally connected. Our scientists, engineers, field teams and consultants apply systems thinking that unites science, data and practical expertise to deliver solutions that strengthen our clients’ resilience, mitigate risk and protect the air, water and soil that sustain communities, while uncovering responsible paths forward for planet and progress. For more information, visit www.onterris.com .
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We acknowledge that these experiences and perspectives help to enrich our teams and contribute to our ongoing success. We are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in our employment for all applicants. For US residents, click here to learn more.
See All 22 Environmental Geologist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Environmental Geologist JobsEnvironmental Geologist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Environmental Geologist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in environmental geologist jobs across California.
- California Professional Geologist license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in geology, environmental science, or closely related field
- Experience conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments
- Proficiency in soil and groundwater sampling, field logging, and lithologic description
- Familiarity with California regulatory frameworks including DTSC, CalEPA, and RWQCB requirements
- Strong technical writing skills for reports, work plans, and regulatory agency correspondence
Environmental Geologist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a environmental geologist in California?
Becoming an environmental geologist in California requires licensure as a Professional Geologist through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree in geology or a closely related science and pass the National Association of State Boards of Geology Fundamentals and Practice exams. Most California employers expect candidates to pursue licensure while accruing supervised field experience, and a Geologist-in-Training designation is available to recent graduates working toward that goal.
How much do environmental geologists make in California?
Environmental geologists in California earn a median of about $106,500 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $45,540 for the lowest 10% to over $171,270 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire environmental geologists in California?
Employers hiring environmental geologists in California right now include Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, WSP, and True Environmental, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense network of Superfund sites, active oil and gas infrastructure, and strict regulatory environment keeps demand for environmental geology services consistently strong across both private consulting firms and public-sector agencies.
Which California cities have the most environmental geologist jobs?
The California cities with the most environmental geologist openings are Irvine, Fresno, and Oakland. Los Angeles generates heavy demand through its legacy industrial contamination, port operations, and large consulting firm offices, while Sacramento concentrates openings tied to state regulatory agencies and Central Valley groundwater projects, and the Bay Area draws hiring from technology sector environmental compliance and Northern California remediation work.
Are there remote environmental geologist jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Environmental geology is fundamentally a field-based discipline requiring physical site visits, soil sampling, and on-site regulatory oversight, which limits remote options. About 70% of environmental geologist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically involve report writing, data management, or regulatory document review rather than active field work.
How can I get hired as a environmental geologist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a field technician or staff geologist role at a mid-size California environmental consulting firm while working toward Geologist-in-Training registration with the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Firms like Arcadis, Kleinfelder, and Ramboll regularly bring on new graduates in California for field sampling and report support work. A strong foundation in soil description, GPS data collection, or GIS software gives candidates a practical edge when competing for those first openings.
Where can I find and apply to environmental geologist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to environmental geologist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across consulting firms, public agencies, and energy companies. Find roles that match your experience level and credentials, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 22 Environmental Geologist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Environmental Geologist Jobs