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Specialist Environmental Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Specialist Environmental Engineer make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Specialist Environmental Engineer in the United States is $127,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $145,176
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,100 to $136,800
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,361
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View as table View as graph 25% $119,100 10% $111,361 90% $145,176 75% $136,800 $127,600 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Specialist Environmental Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $136,800 $11,400 $2,631 $66
Average $127,600 $10,633 $2,454 $61
25th Percentile $119,100 $9,925 $2,290 $57
Check out Specialist Environmental Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Environmental Health and Safety Engineer

Calgon Carbon Corporation Careers - Bexley, OH

Environmental Health and Safety Engineer

Calgon Carbon Corporation - Bexley, OH

Environmental Engineer

Omega Point Partners - Grove City, OH

Environmental Specialist

Jetpack Shipping - Tallmadge, OH

Search More Specialist Environmental Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Specialist Environmental Engineer Salaries

A Specialist 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 Specialist Environmental Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Specialist 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:

  • Intermediate Environmental Engineer (2-4 years): $88,403
  • Senior Environmental Engineer (4-7 years): $104,289
  • Specialist Environmental Engineer (7+ years): $127,539
  • Expert-Team Lead Environmental Engineer (7-10 years): $155,726
  • Environmental Analysis Engineer VI (10-12 years): $219,359
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Intermediate Environmental Engineer2-4 years$88,403
Senior Environmental Engineer4-7 years$104,289
Specialist Environmental Engineer7+ years$127,539
Expert-Team Lead Environmental Engineer7-10 years$155,726
Environmental Analysis Engineer VI10-12 years$219,359
$88,403 Intermedi...
$104,289 Senior En...
$127,539 Specialis...
$155,726 Expert-Te...
$219,359 Environme...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Specialist 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: $160,900
  • San Francisco: $159,200
  • Oakland: $155,800

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 19.31% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Engineering Services (Mentioned in 0.11% Job Postings): Engineering services" means any service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering education, training and experience in the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences
  • Chemical Engineering (Mentioned in 0.08% 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 19.31%
Engineering Services 0.11%
Chemical Engineering 0.08%
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 Specialist Environmental Engineer's salary.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Quality Control: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Products and Services
$165,880
30%
Quality Control
$144,188
13%
Regulatory Compliance
$141,636
11%
Commitment
$141,636
11%
Leadership
$140,360
10%
Consultancy
$140,360
10%
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Specialist Environmental Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Specialist Environmental Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $142,720. While startup companies pay approximate $120,698.

Specialist Environmental Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$120,698
Growth Stage51~500$127,657
Established501~5000$137,823
Enterprise5000+$142,720

Specialist Environmental Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Specialist Environmental Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Specialist Environmental Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Specialist Environmental Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Specialist Environmental Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$165,880$80.030%
Aerospace & Defense$153,120$74.020%
Energy & Utilities$150,568$72.018%
Insurance$142,912$69.012%
Media$136,532$66.07%

How Education impacts a Specialist Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Specialist 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 Specialist Environmental Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $127,115 and $135,319).

Specialist Environmental Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Specialist Environmental Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 1.1%
Associates 1.1%
Bachelors 39.6%
Masters 44.0%
Doctorate 14.3%
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Specialist Environmental Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Specialist 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 July 01, 2026

Specialist Environmental Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Specialist Environmental Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Expert-Team Lead Environmental Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $155,800 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Specialist Environmental Engineer

Salaries for a Specialist Environmental Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $122,401 in 2023 to around $118,402 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Specialist Environmental Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Specialist Environmental Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$122,401
2024
$120,826
2025
$118,402
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $122,401
2024 $120,826
2025 $118,402
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Specialist Environmental Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Specialist Environmental Engineer

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

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

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FAQ about Specialist Environmental Engineer

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

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Specialist Environmental Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. Can an engineer make 300k?

While some engineers can earn high salaries, the typical range for a Specialist Environmental Engineer is between $120,500 and $150,000. Achieving a salary of $300,000 is uncommon in this field, as it generally falls outside the standard compensation for this role.

3. Which branch of engineering has the highest salary?

Specialist Environmental Engineering offers competitive salaries, with a minimum of $120,500, a mid-range of $135,400, and a maximum of $150,000. This field focuses on addressing environmental challenges and sustainability, making it a vital area within engineering. While Petroleum Engineering is known for high salaries, Specialist Environmental Engineers also earn well for their essential contributions.

4. What do environmental engineers do?

Environmental engineers design and enhance systems to reduce the marine energy industry's impact on marine life, ecosystems, water quality, and pollution, benefiting onshore communities. They typically earn between $120,500 and $150,000, with a median salary of $135,400, reflecting their expertise in creating sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.

5. Can an engineer make $500,000?

Can a Specialist Environmental Engineer make $500,000? While it's possible for some experienced professionals in niche roles to reach high compensation, the typical salary range for this position is between $120,500 and $150,000, with a mid-salary of $135,400. Most will not achieve the $500,000 mark.

6. Which company is best for environmental engineering?

Prominent Environmental Engineering recruiters in India include Tetra Tech, Central Pollution Control Board, Enviro Analysts & Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Doshion Ltd., NALCO, AECOM, and Paramount Ltd. The salary range for Specialist Environmental Engineers typically falls between ₹120,500 and ₹150,000, with a mid-salary of around ₹135,400.

7. Which degree is best for environmental engineering?

Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. Some employers prefer candidates with practical experience from internships or cooperative education programs. The salary for Specialist Environmental Engineers ranges from $120,500 to $150,000, with a median of $135,400.

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.

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