How much does an environmental engineer make?
a year · about $52 an hour
A typical environmental engineer in the United States makes $107,110 a year, about $52 an hour, about 2.1× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They may visit a water-treatment plant or polluted site to inspect systems and check environmental conditions. In the office, they study data, plan pollution controls, and write reports.
Did you know? Oregon State researchers are developing a way to turn wastewater into a product that can both water and fertilize crops.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $69,990 and $162,220How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s in environmental or related engineering; an internship can help. To become a licensed PE, typically pass the FE exam, gain about four years of engineering experience, and pass the PE exam; state rules vary.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., environmental engineers with more experience or a Professional Engineer license may earn more. Pay also varies by location, employer type, and the kind of work, such as water treatment or pollution cleanup.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($130,410), lowest in Wisconsin ($89,990).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $69,990 | $107,110 | $162,220 | about 38,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $130,410 | about 5,000 |
| Oregon | $127,100 | about 650 |
| Washington | $125,460 | about 2,000 |
| Texas | $123,060 | about 2,000 |
| Florida | $116,840 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2081.00
- ncees.org/licensure
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes172081.htm
- engineering.oregonstate.edu/academics/discover-engineering/what-do-environmental
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY