Environmental Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Environmental Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $107,110 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 38,340. Wage data is published for 199 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
17-2081.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$107,110
Hourly median
$51.50
Employment
38,340
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Coordination | 3.75 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
- 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.
- Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
- Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
Technology
- Air dispersion modeling software
- ANSYS simulation software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Bentley MicroStation
- Business software applications
- C++
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- Continuous emission management software
- DHI Water and Environment MIKE SHE
- Ecological risk assessment software
- Eko
- Environmental health and safety documentation software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
Environmental Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Environmental Engineers Salary in CAMedian $130,410 · Employment 4,550
- Environmental Engineers Salary in NYMedian $101,270 · Employment 3,170
- Environmental Engineers Salary in TXMedian $123,060 · Employment 1,940
- Environmental Engineers Salary in WAMedian $125,460 · Employment 1,920
- Environmental Engineers Salary in MAMedian $115,800 · Employment 1,880
- Environmental Engineers Salary in New York, NYMedian $107,910 · Employment 1,810
- Environmental Engineers Salary in FLMedian $116,840 · Employment 1,800
- Environmental Engineers Salary in PAMedian $103,330 · Employment 1,750
- Environmental Engineers Salary in Boston, MAMedian $109,620 · Employment 1,460
- Environmental Engineers Salary in COMedian $106,890 · Employment 1,320
- Environmental Engineers Salary in Sacramento, CAMedian $133,240 · Employment 1,200
- Environmental Engineers Salary in MNMedian $115,750 · Employment 1,080
Related careers
- Hydrologic TechniciansNational median $64,790
- Chemical EngineersNational median $125,040
- HydrologistsNational median $96,600
- Petroleum EngineersNational median $144,910
- Agricultural EngineersNational median $98,590
- Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsNational median $90,150
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsNational median $60,020
- Nuclear EngineersNational median $133,970
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.