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Environmental engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$107,110median pay per year, or $51.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $69,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $83,57025th percentile
  3. $107,110median
  4. $134,42075th percentile
  5. $162,220top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Environmental engineers earned a median of $107,110 a year in May 2025[1]. Entry takes a bachelor's degree, and jobs are projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.3%[3]
Openings per year
2,300[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[2]

How much do environmental engineers make?

The median pay for environmental engineers was $107,110 a year, or $51.50 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $112,910 a year, or $54.29 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

Pay varies a lot within the job. Here are the annual wage percentiles:

Point in the range Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][8] $69,990 $33.65
25th percentile[4][8] $83,570 $40.18
Median[1] $107,110 $51.50
75th percentile[4][8] $134,420 $64.63
90th percentile[4][8] $162,220 $77.99

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of environmental engineers earned less than $69,990[4][9]. BLS publishes percentile wages and does not publish a starting salary[9].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 38,340 people worked in the job on this basis[11].

Pay by state and city

Louisiana had the highest median annual wage at $130,510, followed by California at $130,410 and Oregon at $127,100[12]. Washington ($125,460) and Texas ($123,060) came next[12]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median, $83,200[12].

California had the most jobs, at 4,550[13]. New York followed with 3,170, then Texas with 1,940, Washington with 1,920 and Massachusetts with 1,880[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA had the highest median at $141,560[14]. Kennewick-Richland, WA ($140,060) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($138,840) followed[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 1,810, with a median of $107,910[15]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton had 1,460 jobs and a median of $109,620[15].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Louisiana[12]$130,510340
California$130,4104,550
Oregon$127,100650
Washington$125,4601,920
Texas$123,0601,940
Nebraska$120,620270
Idaho$117,520400
Florida$116,8401,800
Massachusetts$115,8001,880
Minnesota$115,7501,080
Connecticut$114,710450
Ohio$113,180730
Alaska$110,220260
Nevada$109,720290
New Mexico$108,360500
Illinois$107,990940
Hawaii$107,880150
Kentucky$107,520350
Colorado$106,8901,320
Wyoming$106,330200
Michigan$105,080810
Virginia$104,9401,010
Utah$103,380410
Pennsylvania$103,3301,750
Alabama$102,650780
New Jersey$102,630990
New York$101,2703,170
Rhode Island$101,140200
Montana$100,140300
North Carolina$99,440n/a
South Dakota$98,89090
Missouri$98,170510
Maryland$97,5701,030
Tennessee$97,190540
Georgia$96,530830
South Carolina$96,140560
Delaware$95,720150
Iowa$94,830150
Kansas$94,070320
Arizona$93,970690
Maine$93,930220
Vermont$92,580110
Indiana$92,460520
Oklahoma$92,090530
North Dakota$91,37090
Mississippi$91,100260
Wisconsin$89,990890
New Hampshire$88,610210
Arkansas$85,280210
West Virginia$83,200370

How to become an environmental engineer

State licensure generally requires an accredited engineering degree, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, several years of relevant work and a passing score on the PE exam[21]. Each state issues its own license[22]. Employers often prefer graduates of accredited programs[23]. Some states also require HAZWOPER certification for this job[24].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 62% said a bachelor's degree was required and 29% said a master's degree[25].

What environmental engineers do

O*NET describes the work as preventing, controlling and cleaning up environmental hazards using engineering methods[26]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

Environmental engineers may work indoors in an office and outdoors at places such as construction sites. They sometimes travel for meetings or to present research[28]. Engineering services was the largest employer, at 24% in 2025[29]. Most environmental engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week to track a project or fix problems[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of environmental engineers to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 39,100 to 41,600 jobs[3]. That is a gain of 2,400 jobs[3]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[31]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

BLS projects about 2,300 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that pays well above the all-occupations median ($107,110 against $50,980)[1][5]. Entry needs a bachelor's degree, which usually takes 4 years[2][17]. Projected growth of 6.3% is above the 3.5% for all occupations[3][31]. The work mixes office and outdoor settings, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[28][30]. A PE license is optional at the start and takes several years of work to reach[19][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an environmental engineer make an hour?
The median was $51.50 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $54.29[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an environmental engineer?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education[2]. It is usually in environmental engineering or a related field such as chemical, civil or general engineering[16].
How long does it take to become an environmental engineer?
Bachelor's degree programs usually take 4 years, and some 5-year programs lead to a bachelor's and a master's degree[17].
Is environmental engineering in demand?
BLS projects 6.3% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 2,300 openings a year[3][31][6].
What is the highest paying state for environmental engineers?
Louisiana had the highest median annual wage, $130,510, with California next at $130,410[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Environmental Engineers in the US was $107,110 per year and $51.50 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Environmental Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Environmental Engineers is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 39,100 to 41,600 jobs (a change of +2,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Environmental Engineers: 10th percentile $69,990, 25th percentile $83,570, 75th percentile $134,420, 90th percentile $162,220. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,300 openings for Environmental Engineers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Environmental Engineers was $112,910 per year and $54.29 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Environmental Engineers: 10th percentile $33.65, 25th percentile $40.18, 75th percentile $64.63, 90th percentile $77.99. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 38,340 people were employed as Environmental Engineers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Environmental Engineers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Environmental Engineers jobs: California 4,550; New York 3,170; Texas 1,940; Washington 1,920; Massachusetts 1,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Environmental Engineers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $141,560; Kennewick-Richland, WA $140,060; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $138,840; Baton Rouge, LA $138,000; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $133,240; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $129,390; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $128,410; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $127,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Environmental Engineers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,810 (median $107,910); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,460 (median $109,620); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 1,200 (median $133,240); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,050 (median $128,410); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,040 (median $129,390); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 910 (median $107,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 17-2081.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 62%, Master's Degree 29% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Environmental Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Environmental Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of environmental engineers in 2025: Engineering services 24%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Environmental Engineers: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.