Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Washington
$132,000 / year
≈ $11,000 per month · $63.46 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Washington · median $130,000
25th percentile
$103,500Average
$132,00075th percentile
$167,000
$103,500Average
$132,00075th percentile
$167,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Environmental Engineer salary by state
Alabama$111,000
Alaska$118,500
Arizona$100,000
Arkansas$93,500
California$130,500
Colorado$117,500
Connecticut$124,000
Delaware$106,500
Florida$115,500
Georgia$104,500
Hawaii$120,000
Idaho$127,500
Illinois$120,000
Indiana$107,500
Iowa$101,000
Kansas$107,000
Kentucky$117,000
Louisiana$143,000
Maine$101,500
Maryland$107,500
Massachusetts$123,500
Michigan$111,500
Minnesota$121,000
Mississippi$98,500
Missouri$102,000
Montana$110,500
Nebraska$124,500
Nevada$125,000
New Hampshire$97,000
New Jersey$113,500
New Mexico$128,000
New York$112,000
North Carolina$108,500
North Dakota$110,000
Ohio$114,000
Oklahoma$101,500
Oregon$132,500
Pennsylvania$107,500
Rhode Island$109,500
South Carolina$104,500
South Dakota$103,000
Tennessee$105,000
Texas$129,000
Utah$111,500
Vermont$105,000
Virginia$115,500
Washington$132,000
West Virginia$96,000
Wisconsin$104,500
Wyoming$110,500
About this role
Environmental Engineer is a professional role within the function in the Architecture and Engineering job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Environmental Engineers do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- 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.
Top skills: Writing Speaking Reading Comprehension Monitoring Critical Thinking Active Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Environmental Engineer pay by experience level
Entry level$72,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$86,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$111,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$139,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$168,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.9%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,000
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Environmental Engineer salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
18,250 workers
$117,500Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
12,240 workers
$113,000Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
9,960 workers
$119,500Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
7,460 workers
$113,000State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
7,140 workers
$108,000Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,760 workers
$113,000Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,350 workers
$128,500Waste Management and Remediation Services
1,370 workers
$117,500Management of Companies and Enterprises
1,040 workers
$126,500Management of Companies and Enterprises
1,040 workers
$126,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Environmental Engineer pays 8% above the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Automotive Engineer$117,500
Civil Engineer$112,500
Agricultural Engineer$112,000
Materials Engineer$124,500
Careers related to Environmental Engineer
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Environmental Engineer make?
The average base salary for a Environmental Engineer in the United States is $117,000 per year, or about $56.25 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $86,500 and $139,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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