Environmental Engineers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Environmental Engineers

Environmental Engineers 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.

Salary
$96890
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Master's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Environmental Engineers 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.

  • Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
  • Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
  • Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
  • Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
Read more about what does an Environmental Engineer really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$92640 per year

Average hourly wage
$45 per hour


Environmental Engineers with little to no experience tend to make between $53180 and $66590 while the more experienced ones can earn over $112230 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
AK $56 $116,680
LA $52 $108,980
CA $51 $105,480
TX $49 $102,660
MD $49 $102,650

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as an Environmental Engineer is to move to a higher paying state like AK. Right now, the highest paying states for Environmental Engineers are AK, LA, CA, TX and MD.

However, a higher pay at AK doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at AK might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as an Environmental Engineer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Master’s degree

We asked other Environmental Engineers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Master’s Degree followed by a Bachelor’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Read more about how to become an Environmental Engineer and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being an Environmental Engineer.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally
Suitable for people who values achievements and are results-oriented
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
72%

Is this job meaningful
70%


72% of Environmental Engineers said they were satisfied with their job and 70% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Thinkers and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Environmental Engineers

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Environmental Engineers job description, Environmental Engineers salary, Environmental Engineers information, what is the job of an Environmental Engineer like, pros and cons about Environmental Engineers, colleges and universities for Environmental Engineers, is Environmental Engineers the right career for me, careers in Architecture and Engineering

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