Environmental engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Environmental engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $107,110 per year — about $51 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 39K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
Environmental engineering involves a significant amount of digital knowledge work, including data analysis, system design, and report writing, which are highly susceptible to AI augmentation. However, the role is insulated by the necessity for physical site inspections, regulatory compliance monitoring in the field, and the legal accountability associated with Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LABEST VALUE | $138,000 | Below avg (90.8) | $152,016 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $135,240 | Below avg (90.0) | $150,190 |
| Decatur, AL | $129,290 | Below avg (87.2) | $148,248 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $140,060 | Average (100.1) | $139,949 |
| Redding, CA | $140,570 | Average (100.7) | $139,615 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $142,700 | Average (102.3) | $139,425 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $125,330 | Below avg (92.7) | $135,242 |
| Columbus, OH | $127,190 | Below avg (95.5) | $133,226 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,700 | Above avg (105.1) | $131,983 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $141,560 | Above avg (107.8) | $131,337 |
| Gainesville, FL | $126,440 | Below avg (96.7) | $130,710 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $123,710 | Below avg (94.7) | $130,612 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $119,260 | Below avg (91.9) | $129,756 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $121,390 | Below avg (93.9) | $129,250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $127,340 | Average (98.6) | $129,110 |