Environmental Engineer Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Environmental Engineers
The median environmental engineer salary in the United States is $107,110 per year ($51.50/hour). Salaries range from $69,990 at the entry level to $162,220+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 38,340 environmental engineer jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Environmental Engineer Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for environmental engineers.
Environmental Engineers design solutions for water + air + soil pollution + waste management + sustainability. Career splits: consulting firms (AECOM, Jacobs, WSP, Stantec β project-heavy), industry (chemical + petroleum + power + water), government (EPA + state DEP + municipal), academic + research, nonprofit + environmental NGOs. Path: bachelor's in Environmental or Civil Engineering + FE + PE. Median compensation: entry $70-100k; mid $95-140k; senior $130-195k; principal + specialty $170-260k+; management $190-330k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Environmental Engineer
- 1Bachelor's in Environmental or Civil Engineering (ABET-accredited)4-year program.
- 2FE exam during senior yearFirst step to PE.
- 3Entry engineer role at consulting firm or industryStructured training.
- 4PE license after 4 yearsRequired for design certification.
- 5Specialize (water, air, remediation, sustainability, regulatory)Specialty commands premium.
- 6Advance to Sr / Principal + managementHigher pay + team leadership.
Career Progression
- β’Support senior engineers
- β’Independent design + PM
- β’Technical leadership + client management
- β’Practice ownership (consulting) + technical + client leadership
- β’Full function + P&L
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through a project you led.case
Q2. How do you approach regulatory permitting?case
Q3. Tell me about a difficult regulatory situation.behavioral
Q4. Why our firm?culture
Q5. How do you handle a public meeting?situational
Resume Template β Environmental Engineer (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈEnvironmental Engineer, [Firm], responsible for water/wastewater/remediation projects.
- βΈPE license + LEED AP + specialty certifications.
- βΈLed $12M capital project on-schedule + under-budget with zero regulatory findings.
- βΈManaged 4 direct reports + client + regulatory relationships.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak regulatory knowledge.
- βPoor client communication.
- βBad-mouthing prior firm.
- βMissing PE or specialty certifications.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + performance bonus + profit-sharing (consulting).
- βSign-on $5-30k common.
- βPE + certifications support.
- βPTO 3-5 weeks.
- βContinuing education budget.
- βPractice ownership path (consulting).
Environmental Engineer Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired environmental engineers. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Environmental Engineer Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 5 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Environmental Engineer Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $130,510 | +21.8% |
| California | $130,410 | +21.8% |
| Oregon | $127,100 | +18.7% |
| Washington | $125,460 | +17.1% |
| Texas | $123,060 | +14.9% |
| Nebraska | $120,620 | +12.6% |
| Idaho | $117,520 | +9.7% |
| Florida | $116,840 | +9.1% |
| Massachusetts | $115,800 | +8.1% |
| Minnesota | $115,750 | +8.1% |
Environmental Engineer Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $142,700 | +33.2% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $141,560 | +32.2% |
| Redding, CA | $140,570 | +31.2% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $140,060 | +30.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $138,840 | +29.6% |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,700 | +29.5% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $138,000 | +28.8% |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,640 | +27.6% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $135,240 | +26.3% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,240 | +24.4% |