At a glance
Median pay for Environmental Engineers runs from $76,250 in Little Rock to $138,840 in San Francisco across 71 curated metros; the middle value is $105,470.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are Baton Rouge ($152,016), Columbus ($133,226), San Antonio ($130,612).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Environmental Engineers salary comparison
Environmental engineer pay varies between consulting, utilities and government employers, and by regulatory specialty. A metro median combines those employers. 71 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $138,000 | $152,016 | $1,135 |
| Columbus, OH | $127,190 | $133,226 | $1,274 |
| San Antonio, TX | $123,710 | $130,612 | $1,363 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $119,260 | $129,756 | $1,192 |
| Houston, TX | $127,340 | $129,110 | $1,430 |
| Dayton, OH | $119,000 | $128,379 | $1,039 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $129,390 | $126,168 | $1,480 |
| Sacramento, CA | $133,240 | $124,909 | $1,819 |
| Cleveland, OH | $115,720 | $123,207 | $1,050 |
| Dallas, TX | $126,650 | $122,854 | $1,614 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $127,080 | $120,545 | $1,724 |
| San Francisco, CA | $138,840 | $120,090 | $2,474 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $113,960 | $119,493 | $1,105 |
| Tulsa, OK | $105,470 | $118,221 | $1,078 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,400 | $116,878 | $1,392 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $115,210 | $115,808 | $1,513 |
| Seattle, WA | $128,410 | $115,546 | $2,000 |
| San Jose, CA | $125,550 | $113,699 | $2,840 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $105,370 | $113,211 | $1,116 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $127,900 | $112,622 | $2,063 |
Show all 71 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $138,000 | $152,016 | $1,135 |
| Columbus, OH | $127,190 | $133,226 | $1,274 |
| San Antonio, TX | $123,710 | $130,612 | $1,363 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $119,260 | $129,756 | $1,192 |
| Houston, TX | $127,340 | $129,110 | $1,430 |
| Dayton, OH | $119,000 | $128,379 | $1,039 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $129,390 | $126,168 | $1,480 |
| Sacramento, CA | $133,240 | $124,909 | $1,819 |
| Cleveland, OH | $115,720 | $123,207 | $1,050 |
| Dallas, TX | $126,650 | $122,854 | $1,614 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $127,080 | $120,545 | $1,724 |
| San Francisco, CA | $138,840 | $120,090 | $2,474 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $113,960 | $119,493 | $1,105 |
| Tulsa, OK | $105,470 | $118,221 | $1,078 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,400 | $116,878 | $1,392 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $115,210 | $115,808 | $1,513 |
| Seattle, WA | $128,410 | $115,546 | $2,000 |
| San Jose, CA | $125,550 | $113,699 | $2,840 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $105,370 | $113,211 | $1,116 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $127,900 | $112,622 | $2,063 |
| Boise City, ID | $109,350 | $111,138 | $1,487 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $120,580 | $110,742 | $2,027 |
| Durham, NC | $107,950 | $110,636 | $1,466 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $115,750 | $110,425 | $1,440 |
| Riverside, CA | $117,360 | $110,257 | $1,846 |
| Detroit, MI | $110,520 | $110,192 | $1,207 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $109,970 | $110,005 | $1,365 |
| North Port, FL | $111,630 | $108,996 | $1,747 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $109,050 | $108,816 | $1,626 |
| Hartford, CT | $111,710 | $108,724 | $1,416 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $100,150 | $108,647 | $1,220 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $115,390 | $107,978 | $1,875 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $102,970 | $107,770 | $1,156 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $102,630 | $107,414 | $1,202 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $110,700 | $106,858 | $1,430 |
| Nashville, TN | $102,930 | $106,843 | $1,528 |
| San Diego, CA | $119,390 | $106,706 | $2,246 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $97,180 | $105,011 | $1,249 |
| Raleigh, NC | $102,980 | $104,914 | $1,573 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $102,110 | $104,257 | $1,478 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $98,010 | $103,527 | $1,053 |
| Des Moines, IA | $94,800 | $103,379 | $1,150 |
| Richmond, VA | $100,760 | $102,966 | $1,447 |
| Birmingham, AL | $94,330 | $102,931 | $1,172 |
| Columbia, SC | $96,140 | $102,646 | $1,193 |
| Denver, CO | $107,880 | $101,983 | $1,874 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $109,620 | $101,251 | $2,023 |
| Rochester, NY | $98,240 | $101,242 | $1,143 |
| Austin, TX | $99,000 | $100,952 | $1,726 |
| Greenville, SC | $93,930 | $100,718 | $1,150 |
| Buffalo, NY | $95,740 | $99,891 | $1,057 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $94,980 | $99,886 | $1,113 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $100,500 | $99,635 | $1,583 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $101,140 | $99,378 | $1,307 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $110,010 | $99,143 | $2,083 |
| Albany, NY | $96,540 | $96,961 | $1,280 |
| Atlanta, GA | $96,820 | $96,764 | $1,672 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $87,420 | $96,695 | $1,124 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $107,910 | $95,866 | $1,830 |
| Knoxville, TN | $86,550 | $93,498 | $1,145 |
| Baltimore, MD | $97,570 | $93,380 | $1,611 |
| Madison, WI | $90,560 | $93,085 | $1,354 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $94,470 | $91,438 | $1,702 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $87,470 | $91,404 | $1,191 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $86,360 | $89,089 | $1,139 |
| Miami, FL | $99,600 | $87,250 | $1,869 |
| Charleston, SC | $86,670 | $85,844 | $1,605 |
| Little Rock, AR | $76,250 | $85,325 | $1,055 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $82,840 | $85,097 | $1,473 |
| Orlando, FL | $82,500 | $81,347 | $1,760 |
| Tucson, AZ | $78,650 | $81,170 | $1,212 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 71 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Environmental Engineers varies across metros
Across the 71 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Environmental Engineers runs from $76,250 in Little Rock to $138,840 in San Francisco, a 1.82× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $81,170 in Tucson to $152,016 in Baton Rouge, a 1.87× difference. The middle value across these metros is $105,470 nominal and $106,843 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 71 metros, Tulsa moves from 36th on nominal pay to 14th on adjusted pay while Urban Honolulu moves from 28th to 55th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $76,500 | $100,630 | $138,000 | $183,060 | $201,300 |
| Columbus, OH | $76,330 | $102,670 | $127,190 | $127,190 | $147,250 |
| San Antonio, TX | $81,610 | $98,320 | $123,710 | $139,010 | $173,100 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $69,240 | $95,160 | $119,260 | $146,770 | $167,120 |
| Houston, TX | $78,120 | $101,660 | $127,340 | $156,030 | $181,910 |
| Dayton, OH | $80,510 | $90,830 | $119,000 | $128,630 | $142,080 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Environmental engineers from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +6.3% ranks 33rd (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 2,300 projected annual openings rank 80th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 39,100 workers in 2025; projected 41,600 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Environmental engineers work on water treatment, remediation, air quality and compliance, often for consulting firms, utilities or government. Fieldwork, permitting and regulatory knowledge vary by employer.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask about the share of fieldwork and travel, the projects you would lead, and whether a professional engineer (PE) license is expected or supported. Compare consulting utilization targets with government schedules.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Environmental Engineers in Austin, TX
Austin is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 71 metros, it ranks 48th on nominal median and 49th on price-adjusted median.
For the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $99,000. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $82,490 to $131,670. The price-adjusted median of $100,952 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 98.1 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,726 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$11. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Greenville has a published BLS median of $93,930 and adjusted median of $100,718. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Austin with Greenville in the interactive tool, or review the Austin metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.