Pros
Working for Caltrans as a biologist can be dynamic, challenging, stimulating, and engaging. The position is what you make of it. There are opportunities to influence project design changes to better accommodate wildlife movement or remove fish passage barriers. Working in California has exposed me to numerous ecosystems and permitting challenges. I regularly interact with colleagues at multiple agencies and non-governmental organizations, which I enjoy. Since coming to Caltrans, I have greatly improved my writing skills and environmental permitting knowledge.
Cons
The biggest downside of working at Caltrans is the low pay. Caltrans environmental planners are 30 percent underpaid compared to the median market. This results in high attrition and difficulty in recruiting. Some engineers and project managers do not appreciate the amount of work this position requires or fully understand the importance of the biology department.