upper level job

Entry Environmental Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Environmental Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Environmental Engineer in the United States is $75,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, an Entry Environmental Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $90,601
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,400 to $83,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,664

Key Factors That Influence Entry Environmental Engineer Salaries

An Entry Environmental Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Environmental Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Environmental Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Environmental Engineer (0-2 years): $75,657
  • Intermediate Environmental Engineer (2-4 years): $88,401
  • Senior Environmental Engineer (4-7 years): $104,293
  • Specialist Environmental Engineer (7+ years): $127,545
  • Expert-Team Lead Environmental Engineer (7-10 years): $155,721
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Environmental Engineer0-2 years$75,657
Intermediate Environmental Engineer2-4 years$88,401
Senior Environmental Engineer4-7 years$104,293
Specialist Environmental Engineer7+ years$127,545
Expert-Team Lead Environmental Engineer7-10 years$155,721

Top Paying Cities for Entry Environmental Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $95,500
  • San Francisco: $94,400
  • Oakland: $92,400

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.38% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • Chemical Engineering (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that uses principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to efficiently use, produce, design, transport and transform energy and materials. The work of chemical engineers can range from the utilisation of nano-technology and nano-materials in the laboratory to large-scale industrial processes that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms, and energy into useful forms and products. Chemical engineers are involved in many aspects of plant design and operation, including safety and hazard assessments, process design and analysis, modeling, control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, construction specification, and operating instructions. Chemical engineers typically hold a degree in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering. Practising engineers may have professional certification and be accredited members of a professional body. Such bodies include the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) or the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). A degree in chemical engineering is directly linked with all of the other engineering disciplines, to various extents.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.38%
Design Engineering 2.13%
Chemical Engineering 1.52%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Environmental Engineer's salary.

  • CAD: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • 3D Modeling: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CAD $83,270
10%
3D Modeling $83,270
10%
Collaboration $80,999
7%

Entry Environmental Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry Environmental Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $84,598. While startup companies pay approximate $71,561.

Entry Environmental Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $71,561
Growth Stage 51~500 $75,683
Established 501~5000 $81,690
Enterprise 5000+ $84,598

Entry Environmental Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Environmental Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Entry Environmental Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Environmental Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Environmental Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$102,195$49.035%
Biotechnology$98,410$47.030%
Energy & Utilities$90,840$44.020%
Financial Services$90,840$44.020%
Internet$87,055$42.015%

How Education impacts an Entry Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Environmental Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry Environmental Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $70,694 and $75,430).

Entry Environmental Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Environmental Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 0.7%
Associates 0.4%
Bachelors 44.9%
Masters 49.1%
Doctorate 4.9%

Entry Environmental Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Environmental Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$69,400
Average $75,700/year
$83,500
$5,783
Average $6,308/month
$6,958
$1,335
Average $1,456/week
$1,606
$33
Average $36/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,500 $6,958 $1,606 $40
Average $75,700 $6,308 $1,456 $36
25th Percentile $69,400 $5,783 $1,335 $33

Entry Environmental Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Entry Environmental Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Intermediate Environmental Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $88,500 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Entry Environmental Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry Environmental Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Entry Environmental Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Entry Environmental Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Entry Environmental Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Entry Environmental Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Environmental Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Environmental Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 35% above the market median.

2. What is a good Entry Level salary in the US?

A good entry-level salary for an Environmental Engineer in the US ranges from $67,100 to $84,100 annually, with a median salary of $75,300. This reflects a competitive compensation for those starting in the field, aligning with industry standards for entry-level positions.

3. Where do environmental engineers get hired?

Environmental engineers are hired across various sectors, including government, transportation, remediation and waste management, water and sewage, consulting (management, technical, scientific), oil, gas, coal, construction, and architectural and engineering services. Entry-level positions typically offer salaries ranging from $67,100 to $84,100, with a median salary of $75,300.

4. Is environmental engineering in demand in USA?

Environmental engineering is in high demand across the USA, with many job opportunities available, particularly in the chemical industry, architecture, and waste management sectors. Entry-level environmental engineers can expect salaries ranging from $67,100 to $84,100, with a mid-salary of approximately $75,300 as they gain experience.

5. Is engineer 1 Entry Level?

Yes, Engineer I is classified as an entry-level position. The salary for an Entry Environmental Engineer typically ranges from $67,100 to $84,100, with a midpoint of $75,300. This reflects the starting compensation for individuals in this role, making it suitable for those beginning their careers in environmental engineering.

6. How much does a beginner engineer earn in USA?

A beginner environmental engineer in the USA typically earns between $67,100 and $84,100 annually, with a median salary of around $75,300. This range reflects the entry-level compensation in the field, which can vary based on location and specific employer.

7. What is the lowest salary for an environmental engineer?

The lowest salary for an Entry Environmental Engineer is $67,100. The median salary is $75,300, while the highest salary can reach up to $84,100. This reflects the varying levels of experience and responsibility within the field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst