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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Environmental Engineer salaries in 2026 span a wider range than most people realize. The weighted national median is $106,685, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Santa Clara, the median is $198,579. We analyzed BLS-sourced salary distributions across 288 U.S. cities and 46 states to map the complete compensation landscape.
A career as a Environmental Engineer sits at the intersection of Engineering and Engineering. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in env eng, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is hybrid/field. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$115,805 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Environmental Engineer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $198,579 — $115,805 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($82,774). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Environmental Engineers average $76,813, the median sits at $106,685, and senior earners pull in $151,492. That $74,679 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $26,318 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $187,969 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $84,809 (average of the bottom 3). That $103,160 delta is real money — $8,597/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Environmental Engineer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $198,579 — $115,805 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($82,774). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Environmental Engineer is $76,813, while senior-level (P90) earners average $151,492. That $74,679 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Environmental Engineers at $135,522 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $111,300) is $24,222.
At the 90th percentile, Environmental Engineers pull in an average of $151,492. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $76,813 | $106,685 | $151,492 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £44,218 | £61,413 | £87,207 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$64,735 | CA$89,909 | CA$127,671 |
| Australia | 13 | A$74,840 | A$103,944 | A$147,600 |
| Sweden | 24 | 441,803 kr | 613,615 kr | 871,334 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $97,576 | $135,522 | $192,441 |
| California | 61 | $87,669 | $121,762 | $172,902 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $84,514 | $117,381 | $166,681 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $82,298 | $114,303 | $162,310 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $80,136 | $111,300 | $158,046 |
| Washington | 8 | $78,533 | $109,073 | $154,884 |
| Oregon | 5 | $77,657 | $107,857 | $153,157 |
| Colorado | 11 | $77,247 | $107,287 | $152,348 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $77,206 | $107,230 | $152,267 |
| New York | 5 | $76,836 | $106,716 | $151,537 |
| Illinois | 5 | $76,663 | $106,476 | $151,196 |
| Nevada | 5 | $75,783 | $105,255 | $149,462 |
| Virginia | 7 | $75,740 | $105,195 | $149,376 |
| Idaho | 3 | $75,740 | $105,195 | $149,377 |
| Utah | 4 | $75,110 | $104,319 | $148,133 |
| Florida | 22 | $75,039 | $104,221 | $147,994 |
| Arizona | 12 | $74,965 | $104,119 | $147,849 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,876 | $103,994 | $147,671 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $74,011 | $102,793 | $145,966 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $73,506 | $102,092 | $144,971 |
| Michigan | 6 | $73,422 | $101,975 | $144,805 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $73,386 | $101,925 | $144,733 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $73,232 | $101,711 | $144,430 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $72,065 | $100,090 | $142,128 |
| Alaska | 1 | $72,065 | $100,090 | $142,128 |
| Iowa | 2 | $72,065 | $100,090 | $142,128 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $72,065 | $100,090 | $142,128 |
| Montana | 1 | $72,065 | $100,090 | $142,128 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $71,080 | $98,722 | $140,185 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $70,984 | $98,589 | $139,996 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $70,976 | $98,578 | $139,980 |
| Texas | 40 | $70,879 | $98,444 | $139,790 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $70,642 | $98,113 | $139,321 |
| Georgia | 6 | $70,443 | $97,838 | $138,930 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $70,353 | $97,713 | $138,752 |
| Indiana | 3 | $70,167 | $97,454 | $138,385 |
| Alabama | 5 | $69,384 | $96,367 | $136,841 |
| Ohio | 6 | $69,230 | $96,153 | $136,537 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $69,182 | $96,087 | $136,443 |
| Maryland | 1 | $69,110 | $95,986 | $136,300 |
| Missouri | 4 | $69,056 | $95,911 | $136,194 |
| Kansas | 4 | $68,894 | $95,686 | $135,874 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $68,606 | $95,286 | $135,306 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $68,245 | $94,785 | $134,595 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $63,850 | $88,680 | $125,926 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $60,895 | $84,576 | $120,098 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average Environmental Engineer median of $135,522 across 1 cities, followed by California ($121,762) and Massachusetts ($117,381). But raw salary is only half the story. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $84,576 and $94,785. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($198,579 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $100,292 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $146,632 | 146 | $100,433 | $87,678 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $198,579 | 198 | $100,292 | $115,745 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $151,436 | 151 | $100,289 | $96,835 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $169,452 | 169 | $100,267 | $100,241 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $177,460 | 177 | $100,260 | $104,649 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $184,466 | 184 | $100,253 | $108,506 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $169,352 | 169 | $100,208 | $122,710 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $161,045 | 161 | $100,028 | $95,613 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $147,032 | 147 | $100,022 | $87,899 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $146,031 | 146 | $100,021 | $87,348 |
The $74,679 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Environmental Engineer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Engineering sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Environmental Engineers is $106,685 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $76,813, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $151,492.
The highest-paying city for Environmental Engineers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $198,579. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($198,579), Irvine ($184,466), San Francisco ($180,863). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Environmental Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $82,774. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Environmental Engineers (10th percentile) average $76,813 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $142,977. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Environmental Engineers average $151,492 nationally — $74,679 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Environmental Engineers can earn up to $281,982.
The top-paying states for Environmental Engineers are Hawaii ($135,522 median), California ($121,762 median), Massachusetts ($117,381 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Environmental Engineer involves Bachelor's in env eng. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/field.
With a national median of $106,685 and representation across 288 metro areas, Environmental Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $74,679 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.