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Hourly Wage for Senior Environmental Engineer Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Senior Environmental Engineer?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Senior Environmental Engineer in the United States is $50, which translates to an annual salary of about $104,300.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46 to $56 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Senior Environmental Engineer Salaries

A Senior 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 Senior Environmental Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior 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 Senior 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: $131,600
  • San Francisco: $130,200
  • Oakland: $127,400

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 7% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
  • Field Engineering (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): The process of handling, maintaining, monitoring, installing and providing support for network hardware, software and communication links.
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 7%
AutoCAD 1.75%
Field Engineering 1.75%

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 a Senior Environmental Engineer's salary.

  • Client Relationship: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Consultancy: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Client Relationship $108,472
4%
Consultancy $108,472
4%
Insight $108,472
4%

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

Senior Environmental Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $116,560. While startup companies pay approximate $98,598.

Senior Environmental Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $98,598
Growth Stage 51~500 $104,277
Established 501~5000 $112,553
Enterprise 5000+ $116,560

Senior Environmental Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Environmental Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Senior Environmental Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Environmental Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Environmental Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$125,160$60.020%
Software & Networking$125,160$60.020%
Telecom$125,160$60.020%
Business Services$114,730$55.010%
Construction$114,730$55.010%

How Education impacts a Senior Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior 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 a Senior Environmental Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $104,984 and $111,840).

Senior Environmental Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Environmental Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.4%
Bachelors 36.0%
Masters 50.8%
Doctorate 12.2%

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

Understanding how a Senior 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
$96,500
Average $104,300/year
$115,700
$8,042
Average $8,692/month
$9,642
$1,856
Average $2,006/week
$2,225
$46
Average $50/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $115,700 $9,642 $2,225 $56
Average $104,300 $8,692 $2,006 $50
25th Percentile $96,500 $8,042 $1,856 $46

Most common benefits for Senior Environmental Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Senior Environmental Engineer

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

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FAQ about Senior Environmental Engineer

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Environmental Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. Which type of engineer has highest salary?

Among engineering roles, Senior Environmental Engineers earn competitive salaries, with a minimum of $99,400, a mid-range of $111,400, and a maximum of $124,400. While various engineering disciplines offer high pay, Senior Environmental Engineers are well-compensated, reflecting the importance of their work in sustainability and environmental protection.

3. Do engineers make 500k a year?

While some engineers can earn high salaries, the typical range for a Senior Environmental Engineer is between $99,400 and $124,400 annually, with a mid-salary of $111,400. Achieving a $500k salary usually requires significant experience, specialized skills, and often includes bonuses and equity at top-tier companies.

4. What is the highest salary of an environmental engineer?

The highest salary for a Senior Environmental Engineer is $124,400 annually. The salary range typically spans from a minimum of $99,400 to a midpoint of $111,400, reflecting the varying levels of experience and responsibility within the field.

5. What is the highest paid environmental job?

The highest paid environmental jobs include roles like Director of Sustainability, with salaries ranging from $281,000 to $400,000 per year. Other notable positions are Environmental Director and Environmental Manager. For a Senior Environmental Engineer, the salary ranges from $99,400 to $124,400, with a mid-salary of $111,400, reflecting the demand for expertise in this field.

6. What are the disadvantages of being an environmental engineer?

Cons of Environmental Engineering include technical requirements, as strong skills in mathematics, physics, and engineering principles are essential, which can be challenging for some. Additionally, the job may involve physical demands, with fieldwork in difficult environments like construction sites or contaminated areas. Salary ranges for Senior Environmental Engineers are between $99,400 and $124,400, with a midpoint of $111,400.

7. Which type of engineer has highest salary?

Among engineering roles, Senior Environmental Engineers have competitive salaries, with a minimum of $99,400, a mid-range of $111,400, and a maximum of $124,400. While other engineering fields may offer higher salaries, the environmental sector remains a lucrative option, especially considering the growing demand for sustainability and environmental protection.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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