Environmental Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$104,000
national median salary
$81,000 to $131,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $107,110 for Environmental Engineers (SOC 17-2081) across the United States, based on 38,340 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$69,990
25th percentile
$83,570
Median
$107,110
75th percentile
$134,420
90th percentile
$162,220
Workers surveyed
38,340
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$104,170
May 2025 release
$107,110
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Environmental Engineers (SOC 17-2081) rather than Environmental Engineerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2081Highest Paying
$146,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$109,000
Columbus, OH
Lowest Paying
$80,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-2081. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Environmental Engineer salary in the United States at $104,000 in 2026, within a range of $81,000 to $131,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $146,000, while Columbus offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. PE licensure, specialization in water treatment or air quality, and experience with EPA regulatory compliance drive the biggest salary differences.
Environmental Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase Environmental Engineer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Environmental Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,560 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$14,560 per year
≈ +$13,520 per year
≈ +$12,480 per year
≈ +$11,440 per year
≈ +$11,440 per year
≈ +$10,400 per year
≈ +$10,400 per year
≈ +$9,360 per year
What you should know.
PE licensure, specialization in water treatment or air quality, and experience with EPA regulatory compliance drive the biggest salary differences. Engineers working on remediation of contaminated sites or in the oil and gas sector earn premiums for hazardous conditions expertise.
Junior Environmental Engineers earn $70,000 to $80,000. Mid-career engineers with PE licensure reach $88,000 to $105,000. Senior Engineers and Project Managers command $105,000 to $130,000, while Principal Engineers and Directors at consulting firms exceed $145,000.
PE-licensed engineers receive immediate salary bumps of 10 to 15%. Annual bonuses of 5 to 12% are typical at consulting firms. Government roles offer pension benefits and strong job security, though base salaries trend 10 to 15% lower than private sector.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Environmental Engineers typically earn $94,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Environmental Engineer pay.
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