As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Environmental Engineer I in the United States is $36, which translates to an annual salary of about $75,657.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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An Environmental Engineer I'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.
Experience is a primary driver of an Environmental Engineer I'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Engineer I | 0-2 years | $75,657 |
| Environmental Engineer II | 2-4 years | $88,406 |
| Environmental Engineer III | 4-7 years | $104,283 |
| Environmental Engineer IV | 7+ years | $127,530 |
| Environmental Engineer V | 7-10 years | $155,734 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Environmental Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 6.38% |
| Design Engineering | 2.13% |
| Chemical Engineering | 1.52% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
CAD
|
$83,223 |
10%
|
|
3D Modeling
|
$83,223 |
10%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$80,953 |
7%
|
|
Alignment
|
$80,953 |
7%
|
|
Innovation
|
$80,196 |
6%
|
|
Technical Writing
|
$80,196 |
6%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Environmental Engineer Is 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 Environmental Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $70,991 and $75,776).
Environmental Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
| 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% |
Understanding how an Environmental Engineer I'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 April 01, 2026Salaries for an Environmental Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,929 in 2023 to around $66,740 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Environmental Engineer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $66,929 |
| 2024 | $67,386 |
| 2025 | $66,740 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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|
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Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Environmental Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
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Responsible for providing engineering solutions to environmental issues. Conducts environmental experiments to identify, assess, and resolve problems concerning the environment. Analyzes environmental data, reports, and trends and makes recommendations for corrective action. May also design, install, operate, and maintain measuring apparatus to determine the level of pollutants involving air, land, and water. Ensures the organization's compliance with federal, state, and local environmental legislation. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Design Engineering: Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
Chemical Engineering: 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.
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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