Environmental engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Mean (average) | $112,910 | $54.29 |
| 90th percentile | $162,220 | $77.99 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Environmental engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $102,650 | $66,720 | $158,910 | 780 | 1.5 |
| Alaska | $110,220 | $78,940 | $155,530 | 260 | 3.28 |
| Arizona | $93,970 | $63,790 | $130,190 | 690 | 0.86 |
| Arkansas | $85,280 | $51,910 | $132,700 | 210 | 0.67 |
| California | $130,410 | $79,790 | $170,790 | 4,550 | 1.01 |
| Colorado | $106,890 | $66,390 | $165,870 | 1,320 | 1.86 |
| Connecticut | $114,710 | $80,280 | $156,830 | 450 | 1.07 |
| Delaware | $95,720 | $70,100 | $151,890 | 150 | 1.23 |
| Florida | $116,840 | $57,240 | $154,130 | 1,800 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $96,530 | $64,810 | $144,870 | 830 | 0.69 |
| Hawaii | $107,880 | $76,180 | $156,640 | 150 | 0.94 |
| Idaho | $117,520 | $69,780 | $165,810 | 400 | 1.89 |
| Illinois | $107,990 | $71,990 | $153,150 | 940 | 0.62 |
| Indiana | $92,460 | $65,120 | $142,780 | 520 | 0.66 |
| Iowa | $94,830 | $66,780 | $134,050 | 150 | 0.38 |
| Kansas | $94,070 | $69,850 | $139,210 | 320 | 0.9 |
| Kentucky | $107,520 | $76,310 | $157,130 | 350 | 0.7 |
| Louisiana | $130,510 | $76,500 | $201,300 | 340 | 0.72 |
| Maine | $93,930 | $69,310 | $139,510 | 220 | 1.38 |
| Maryland | $97,570 | $62,380 | $156,750 | 1,030 | 1.51 |
| Massachusetts | $115,800 | $77,150 | $172,920 | 1,880 | 2.09 |
| Michigan | $105,080 | $73,090 | $142,570 | 810 | 0.74 |
| Minnesota | $115,750 | $95,330 | $143,330 | 1,080 | 1.49 |
| Mississippi | $91,100 | $57,320 | $145,910 | 260 | 0.92 |
| Missouri | $98,170 | $56,430 | $128,490 | 510 | 0.7 |
| Montana | $100,140 | $63,920 | $154,530 | 300 | 2.42 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 | $69,240 | $165,590 | 270 | 1.08 |
| Nevada | $109,720 | $85,250 | $168,630 | 290 | 0.77 |
| New Hampshire | $88,610 | $55,780 | $134,280 | 210 | 1.25 |
| New Jersey | $102,630 | $69,830 | $161,990 | 990 | 0.94 |
| New Mexico | $108,360 | $80,470 | $200,170 | 500 | 2.35 |
| New York | $101,270 | $67,370 | $157,490 | 3,170 | 1.33 |
| North Carolina | $99,440 | $69,000 | $143,040 | ||
| North Dakota | $91,370 | $61,310 | $170,090 | 90 | 0.85 |
| Ohio | $113,180 | $69,000 | $145,490 | 730 | 0.53 |
| Oklahoma | $92,090 | $60,790 | $136,990 | 530 | 1.26 |
| Oregon | $127,100 | $80,720 | $181,280 | 650 | 1.35 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,330 | $47,930 | $149,990 | 1,750 | 1.17 |
| Puerto Rico | $77,560 | $45,740 | $126,440 | 110 | 0.47 |
| Rhode Island | $101,140 | $83,980 | $135,800 | 200 | 1.61 |
| South Carolina | $96,140 | $47,740 | $149,340 | 560 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $98,890 | $78,890 | $124,350 | 90 | 0.83 |
| Tennessee | $97,190 | $62,630 | $142,660 | 540 | 0.67 |
| Texas | $123,060 | $76,510 | $177,820 | 1,940 | 0.56 |
| Utah | $103,380 | $76,230 | $148,830 | 410 | 0.96 |
| Vermont | $92,580 | $72,450 | $153,440 | 110 | 1.45 |
| Virginia | $104,940 | $65,520 | $157,990 | 1,010 | 1 |
| Washington | $125,460 | $80,660 | $175,610 | 1,920 | 2.19 |
| West Virginia | $83,200 | $57,460 | $155,170 | 370 | 2.14 |
| Wisconsin | $89,990 | $69,940 | $154,010 | 890 | 1.22 |
| Wyoming | $106,330 | $71,320 | $143,360 | 200 | 2.92 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for environmental engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for environmental engineers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering CIP 14.0802
- Water Resources Engineering CIP 14.0805
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering CIP 14.1401
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
- Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
- Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
- Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
- Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
- Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
- Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
- Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
- ANSYS simulation software
- Air dispersion modeling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Time Management.
Common job titles: Air Pollution Control Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Consultant, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Remediation Specialist, Hazardous Substances Engineer, Sanitary Engineer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do environmental engineers make?
The national median annual wage for environmental engineers was $107,110 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $69,990 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $162,220. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do environmental engineers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is environmental engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of environmental engineers to change +6.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay environmental engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Louisiana ($130,510), California ($130,410), Oregon ($127,100). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.