Environmental Engineers
SOC 17-2081 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Environmental Engineers is $100,090, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $105,840, and an estimated 39,880 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +8.7% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -7.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 3.9% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Environmental Engineers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $100,090 | $100,090 | 39,880 |
| 2022 | $96,530 | $100,504 | 45,440 |
| 2021 | $96,820 | $108,873 | 42,660 |
| 2020 | $92,120 | $108,454 | 50,260 |
Nominal change
+8.7%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-7.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+3.9%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
39,400
Projected 2034
41,000
Annual Openings
3,000
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Environmental Engineers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $100,090. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $140,640 | +40.5% | 40 |
| Ohio | $123,850 | +23.7% | 1,820 |
| District of Columbia | $121,860 | +21.8% | 170 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $120,540 | +20.4% | — |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $120,030 | +19.9% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $115,150 | +15% | 490 |
| Texas | $114,900 | +14.8% | 2,070 |
| California | $111,970 | +11.9% | 5,910 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $109,430 | +9.3% | 30 |
| Alaska | $108,730 | +8.6% | 240 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$63,370
25th Pct
$78,640
Median
$100,090
75th Pct
$125,520
90th Pct
$156,530
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| UChicago Argonne LLC | IL | 6 | $115,430 |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | NJ | 5 | $70,000 |
| Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | CA | 3 | $86,054 |
| Populus Group LLC | NJ | 2 | $90,002 |
| CAROLLO ENGINEERS, INC. | CA | 2 | $111,696 |
| CAROLLO ENGINEERS, INC. | AZ | 2 | $185,040 |
| Brice Engineering, LLC | AK | 2 | $88,650 |
| Enbridge Employee Services, Inc. | TX | 2 | $130,000 |
| The International Council on Clean Transportation | DC | 2 | $92,208 |
| AECOM Technical Services Inc | TX | 2 | $110,455 |
| Veolia Water NA Operating SVCS LLC | MA | 2 | $203,533 |
| Kleinfelder, Inc. | CA | 2 | $114,787 |
| Arcadis U.S., Inc. | TX | 2 | $115,003 |
| Stantec Consulting Services Inc. | WA | 1 | $105,019 |
| Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | MD | 1 | $81,835 |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | WA | 1 | $109,997 |
| WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc. | NC | 1 | $86,570 |
| Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. | TN | 1 | $98,000 |
| Stamford Scientific International, Inc. | NY | 1 | $87,674 |
| Amazon Data Services, Inc | WA | 1 | $94,661 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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