Pay steps are from DCAS Notice of Examination No. 6305 and Notice No. 5304. Payroll figures are from Citywide Payroll Data (Fiscal Year) on NYC Open Data, published by the Office of Payroll Administration, as checked on October 18, 2026.
The NYC Environmental Police Officer salary starts at $52,333 a year, rises to $60,038 after 26 weeks and reaches $80,391 after six and a half years at Assignment Level I, according to Notice 6305. Many people search for it as the DEP police salary or the Environmental Police Officer salary in NYC, because the officers work for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This guide shows the pay steps on the notice, what official City payroll records show and why base salary, gross pay and overtime are three different numbers.
Environmental Police Officer salary on the exam notice
New officers are appointed at Assignment Level I. The two most recent notices with these figures list these pay steps for that level:
| Pay step | Exam 5304 (filing Dec 2024 to Mar 2025) | Exam 6305 (filing Apr 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| First 26 weeks | $50,686 | $52,333 |
| After 26 weeks | $58,148 | $60,038 |
| After six and a half years at Level I | $77,861 | $80,391 |
Between the two notices, the starting rate rose by $1,647, the rate after 26 weeks by $1,890 and the Level I top step by $2,530. The notice says "All rates are subject to change," so the notice for Exam 7305 may list different pay. Filing for Exam 7305 is planned to begin on December 2, 2026 (DCAS schedule), and its notice is not posted yet.
Benefits on top of salary
Notice 6305 lists these in addition to salary:
- an annual uniform allowance
- longevity pay
- City contributions to a Welfare Fund
- City-paid health insurance
The notice does not give dollar amounts for the uniform allowance or for longevity pay.
Three assignment levels
The title has three assignment levels, and appointments are made to Assignment Level I. After appointment, the notice says, employees "may be assigned to a higher level at the discretion of the agency." The pay steps above are for Level I. The notice does not list pay for the higher levels.
What official City payroll data shows
The City publishes pay records for its employees in the Citywide Payroll Data (Fiscal Year) dataset on NYC Open Data, from the Office of Payroll Administration. City fiscal years end on June 30, so fiscal year 2025 ran from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. It is the latest year in the dataset as of October 18, 2026. For the title Environmental Police Officer at DEP, fiscal year 2025 shows:
- 179 payroll records
- Average base salary rate: $79,766, with rates from $50,686 to $96,210
- Average regular gross paid: $70,668
- Average overtime paid: $13,022
- Average other pay: $9,868
The highest base rate on file, $96,210, is above the Level I top step on the notice. The dataset does not record assignment levels, so it does not show why some rates are higher.
| Fiscal year (ended June 30) | Payroll records | Average base salary rate | Average overtime paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 223 | $61,861 | $2,532 |
| 2022 | 236 | $61,151 | $3,334 |
| 2023 | 206 | $62,831 | $6,055 |
| 2024 | 201 | $75,599 | $8,970 |
| 2025 | 179 | $79,766 | $13,022 |
Average overtime paid went up every year from fiscal year 2021 to 2025. The number of payroll records fell from 236 in fiscal year 2022 to 179 in fiscal year 2025. The averages change from year to year, so read each one as a snapshot of that year.
Base salary, gross pay and overtime: what is the difference?
- Base salary is the annual rate on file for the employee. The dataset keeps the rate at the end of the fiscal year, so raises during the year are not shown step by step.
- Regular gross paid is what the employee was actually paid for base salary during the fiscal year. Someone who started partway through the year, or left before it ended, was paid for only part of it.
- Overtime paid is pay for overtime hours worked during the fiscal year. It differs from one officer to the next.
- Other pay is everything else. The dataset gives examples such as differentials, lump sums, uniform allowance, meal allowance, retroactive pay increases, settlement amounts and bonus pay.
This is why the fiscal year 2025 average regular gross ($70,668) is lower than the average base rate ($79,766): records for people who were on the payroll for only part of the year pull the average gross pay down.
Read the payroll numbers with care
- Records, not people. Each row is a payroll record, not a unique person, so 179 records is not the same as 179 officers.
- Partial years. Employees who were on the payroll for part of the year pull the gross pay averages down.
- Base is a rate. Base salary is the annual rate on file, not the amount paid.
- Overtime varies. Overtime differs from person to person, and an average does not tell you what any one officer earned.
- Not a promise. The averages describe past pay. They are not a promise of what you will earn. The notice for your exam sets the starting pay.
Do Environmental Police Officers get overtime?
City payroll data shows overtime pay for the title: an average of $13,022 per payroll record in fiscal year 2025, up from $2,532 in fiscal year 2021. The data does not say how overtime is assigned, and how much overtime any one officer will work is not published.
From the exam to the first paycheck
The pay steps start once you are appointed. Before that come the exam, the eligible list and the steps before appointment. Check the requirements to become an NYC Environmental Police Officer, read what an Environmental Police Officer does and see the dates and the fee in how the exam works.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an NYC Environmental Police Officer make?
Notice 6305 lists $52,333 for the first 26 weeks, $60,038 after 26 weeks and $80,391 after six and a half years at Assignment Level I, plus an annual uniform allowance, longevity pay, Welfare Fund contributions and City-paid health insurance. In official City payroll data for fiscal year 2025, the 179 payroll records for the title at DEP had an average base salary rate of $79,766 and average overtime paid of $13,022.
What is the starting salary?
$52,333 a year for the first 26 weeks, then $60,038 after 26 weeks, according to Notice 6305. The notice says all rates are subject to change, so check the notice for your exam.
Did the salary go up?
Yes. Exam 5304 listed $50,686, $58,148 and $77,861 for the three Level I steps. Exam 6305 lists $52,333, $60,038 and $80,391.
What is the DEP police salary?
It is the same title. Environmental Police Officers work for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), so many people call them DEP police. The pay steps on this page apply.
Do Environmental Police Officers get overtime?
City payroll data shows overtime pay for the title, an average of $13,022 per payroll record in fiscal year 2025. Overtime differs from officer to officer, and the average is not a promise of pay.
Why is average gross pay lower than the average base salary?
Base salary is the annual rate on file. Regular gross is what was actually paid during the fiscal year, and people who were on the payroll for only part of the year were paid less than their annual rate.
What benefits come with the job?
Notice 6305 lists an annual uniform allowance, longevity pay, City contributions to a Welfare Fund and City-paid health insurance. It does not give dollar amounts for the allowance or longevity pay.
Where do the payroll numbers come from?
From the official Citywide Payroll Data (Fiscal Year) dataset on NYC Open Data, published by the City's Office of Payroll Administration. We filtered it to the title Environmental Police Officer at DEP.
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Environmental Police Officer, Exam No. 6305 (PDF)
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Environmental Police Officer, Exam No. 5304 (PDF)
- NYC Open Data: Citywide Payroll Data (Fiscal Year), Office of Payroll Administration
- DCAS Annual Examination Schedule through June 30, 2027, application period order (PDF)
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of New York, DCAS, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or any City agency. Always confirm dates and rules in the current Notice of Examination.
Last updated October 2026