All careersEngineering & science

Environmental Engineer

$104,170
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Design systems and solutions to clean up pollution, manage waste, and protect air and water.

Where you work

Offices, plus field and site visits.

The hours

Full-time, with some field travel

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$104,170
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~3,000
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4%
About average
Working in the U.S.
39,400
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree.

License or certification

A Professional Engineer license is required to approve projects and stamp public designs.

What it takes

System designEnvironmental scienceData analysisProblem solving

The honest take

Applies engineering to pollution, water, and climate work, with demand tied to regulation.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-2081. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.