biologist

archaeological field technician

environmental planner

planner

archaeologist

Environmental Science Associates

ESA prioritizes profits and minimizes importance of supporting employees, All of this is particularly disappointing given they very much outwardly say otherwise. Though leadership in the PNW is part of the problem, this issue is systemic and plagues what would otherwise should be a good company to work for. PNW leadership at the regional level, as well as for the biology group, do not care about supporting their employees, but instead disregard their thoughts, feelings, and priorities in order to improve their numbers. This has been seen too many times to count, which is why they suffer high staff turnover. An aggressive HR department facilitates this through their practice of protecting the company from its employees - often resulting in employees being ostracized and unsupported. ESA is the antithesis of work life balance. ESA talks about DEI, individuality, creating space for diverse staff - putting time into leading this effort only brought awareness that these claims are completely hollow. ESA is more than disappointing - it is a divisive place to work.

After being in the industry for 10 years, this firm single-handedly made me consider leaving the field altogether. In my experience, the culture was extremely competitive and divisive – teams were often pitted against each other, and it created an environment where people didn’t feel like they could trust their coworkers.

When problems came up, blame was usually pushed down the ladder instead of leadership stepping in to support staff or fix systemic issues. Workload and expectations were high, but genuine mentoring and guidance from upper management were rare. Over the four years I was there, I did not see things improve; if anything, they felt like they were getting worse.

I cared deeply about clients and project outcomes, but the focus always seemed to be on billable hours and performance metrics rather than taking care of the people doing the work. I wish there had been more respect and support for staff who put in long hours and tried to do right by clients. Never seen lower morale in a consulting firm… stay clear of ESA. 

My internship at ESA's San Fransico office has been an incredibly rewarding experience. From the very start, I was welcomed into a supportive and engaging work environment, where I had the chance to learn from skilled professionals who were always willing to offer guidance.

The leadership and mentorship I received played a pivotal role in shaping my understanding of corporate accounting, and I am grateful for the hands-on experience I gained throughout my time here. The team at ESA made me feel valued and supported, and their patience, authenticity, and humor made each day enjoyable.

I am leaving this internship with a wealth of knowledge that I will carry with me into my career. ESA is truly a great place to learn and grow, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a fulfilling and educational internship experience.

It was a consulting company, all consulting companies run on"Billable Hours" so you are always busy. At this company I thought It was bad to have to compete with my fellow employees for those precious "billable-hours".

Most of the employees were nice, but some were tired of field work  and demanded I teach them how to do things, so that they could do it and I wouldn't get those hours...

The work is challenging and thus fulfilling. Management is disorganized and separate business groups are just that, separate. Workplace culture is casual which is a real strength here. Projects are meaningful and rewarding. Utilization goals are normal at low levels but almost non-existent for higher-ups. Upward mobility within company is lacking. Overall, not a bad place to be.

Meaningful projects and great people. However, biological resource staff is overworked and underpaid. You are expected to work more than 40 hours without additional compensation. The company feels like it’s stuck several decades in the past with old/dated management. 

ESA is a very strong multidisciplinary environmental consulting firm with a good culture that supports technical excellence and work-life balance. There are many multi-talented people working throughout ESA who contribute to some truly outstanding work that matters.

ESA is highly respected in the field of environmental consulting. The company culture is supportive and collaborative. The motto is doing work that matters. The company is well-managed. As an employee-owned company, the satisfaction of employee owners is prioritized at ESA.

Very fast paced environment but great place to work overall, I’ve learned so much since starting here 3 years ago. And we’ve grown a great deal as a company. The amount of work can at times be overwhelming depending on the season but the people are great. Benefits are great too. The ESOP is a nice bonus. 

Work got done when due per dead lines. There are also some down times in which the office was a little more laid back. Great view from the office of the airport at the time and perfect meeting place in the conference room for clients to come in or have group organized meetings or birthday surprises.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Biologist 12 salaries reported	$48.55 per hour
Archaeological field technician 15 salaries reported	$29.98 per hour
Environmental planner 16 salaries reported	$136,369 per year
Planner 5 salaries reported	$106,400 per year
Archaeologist 9 salaries reported	$93,788 per year

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