What is the salary and career path for an environmental engineer?
Environmental engineer is an exact match to Environmental Engineers (SOC 17-2081), the BLS code for engineers who design pollution-control, treatment and remediation systems; the OEWS May 2025 median is $107,110 a year ($51.50 an hour), from $69,990 at the 10th percentile to $162,220 at the 90th. BLS projects 3.9% employment growth for the code over 2024–2034 — about average — with roughly 3,000 openings a year. It requires an ABET-accredited environmental (or civil/chemical) engineering degree, and the NCEES FE then PE license for engineers who stamp designs.
- Environmental Engineers earn a national median $107,110/yr ($51.50/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2081); the top 10% clear $162,220.
- Environmental engineering is a licensed profession: an ABET degree plus the NCEES FE, then the PE to legally stamp designs.
- BLS projects 3.9% growth for Environmental Engineers (SOC 17-2081) through 2034 — about average — with roughly 3,000 openings a year, lifted by water infrastructure and remediation.
- Pay runs from an entry EIT near $69,990 to a principal or engineering manager at the $162,220 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become an environmental engineer?
Entry environmental engineer (EIT)
Running treatment and hydrologic calculations and drafting permits under a PE after the FE; entry pay sits near the 10th percentile of $69,990.
Environmental Engineer
Owning treatment, remediation or stormwater designs and compliance work around the $107,110 national median for SOC 17-2081.
Senior / project engineer
Leading treatment-plant or remediation projects and client relationships pays toward the 75th percentile of $134,420.
Principal / engineering manager
Directing an environmental practice or a treatment program reaches the 90th percentile of $162,220.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays environmental engineers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2081. National median: $107,110. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does environmental engineer pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles environmental engineers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: environmental engineers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.9% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly environmental engineers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2081 (environmental engineers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do environmental engineers need?
The baseline credential; civil or chemical degrees with an environmental focus also enter the field. See all state licences →
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the required first step toward the PE.
The NCEES Professional Engineer (Environmental) license required to stamp environmental designs.
Board Certified Environmental Engineer (AAEES) and specialty credentials that deepen standing in the field.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do environmental engineers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 17-2081
Salary Levers
How do environmental engineers earn above the $107,110 BLS median?
PE license and stamping authority
Earning the PE lets an engineer seal designs and moves pay from the $69,990 entry band toward the upper percentiles.
Specialization
Water/wastewater treatment, air quality or remediation depth commands premiums above the $107,110 median.
Project and practice leadership
Project management and principal roles push earnings toward the $162,220 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an environmental engineer worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2081. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Environmental Engineer Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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