What are the main factors that influence a Water/Wastewater Engineer I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What are the highest paying states for a Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

Water/Wastewater Engineer I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Water/Wastewater Engineer I roles are District of Columbia $88,863, California $88,526, Massachusetts $87,346. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Water/Wastewater Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Water/Wastewater Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Corrosion Engineer I: $93,344; Metrology Engineer I: $84,487; Medical Device Engineer I: $80,070; Embedded Software Engineer I: $80,025; Facilities Engineer I: $79,732.

How do different companies affect a Water/Wastewater Engineer I's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Water/Wastewater Engineer I roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Water/Wastewater Engineer I make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Water/Wastewater Engineer I in the United States is $80,259 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Water/Wastewater Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,351
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,788 to $87,112
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,343

10% $58,343

50% (Median) $80,259

90% $93,351

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$87,112	$7,259	$1,675	$42
Average	$80,259	$6,688	$1,543	$39
25th Percentile	$68,788	$5,732	$1,323	$33

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Key Factors That Influence Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries

A Water/Wastewater Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Water/Wastewater Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $88,863.
California: $88,526.
Massachusetts: $87,346.

District of Columbia $88,863 California $88,526 Massachusetts $87,346 Washington $87,025 New Jersey $86,993 Alaska $86,881 Connecticut $85,773 New York $85,324

Hawaii $83,887 Rhode Island $83,213 Maryland $82,755 Minnesota $82,129 Colorado $81,889 Illinois $81,808 Oregon $81,503 Delaware $81,279

New Hampshire $81,137 Virginia $80,821 Pennsylvania $79,898 Nevada $79,433 North Dakota $79,280 Michigan $79,039 Wisconsin $78,951 Vermont $78,775

Texas $78,285 Maine $78,253 Arizona $78,205 Ohio $78,149 Georgia $77,410 Indiana $77,041 Wyoming $76,969 Utah $76,856

Iowa $76,808 Kansas $76,423 Louisiana $76,311 North Carolina $76,270 Missouri $76,254 Florida $75,941 Montana $75,773 Nebraska $75,612

Kentucky $75,524 South Carolina $75,203 Tennessee $75,002 Idaho $74,922 New Mexico $74,336 Oklahoma $74,208 Alabama $73,734 South Dakota $72,940

Arkansas $72,506 West Virginia $72,274 Mississippi $71,575

Top Paying Cities for Water/Wastewater Engineer Is

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: $101,231
San Francisco: $100,123
Oakland: $98,013

San Jose, CA $101,231

San Francisco, CA $100,123

Oakland, CA $98,013

New York, NY $92,410

Paramus, NJ $91,286

Queens Village, NY $91,282

Passaic, NJ $91,206

Bergenfield, NJ $91,199

Stamford, CT $91,022

Huntington, NY $90,989

Newark, NJ $90,396

Bridgeport, CT $90,227

Vallejo, CA $90,067

New Brunswick, NJ $90,035

Petaluma, CA $89,987

Middlesex, NJ $89,834

Somerset, NJ $89,778

Santa Cruz, CA $89,674

Boston, MA $89,184

Monterey, CA $88,902

Seattle, WA $88,719

Santa Rosa, CA $88,703

Los Angeles, CA $88,679

Juneau, AK $88,470

Washington, DC $88,382

Orange, CA $88,096

Santa Ana, CA $87,884

Long Beach, CA $87,804

Anaheim, CA $87,788

Anchorage, AK $87,748

Santa Maria, CA $87,507

Everett, WA $87,491

Danbury, CT $87,208

Bremerton, WA $87,097

Tacoma, WA $86,809

New Suffolk, NY $86,807

Sacramento, CA $86,784

Santa Barbara, CA $86,696

Trenton, NJ $86,608

San Diego, CA $86,608

Brockton, MA $86,520

Fairbanks, AK $86,323

Lompoc, CA $86,118

Lowell, MA $86,053

Ventura, CA $86,038

Nashua, NH $86,022

Stockton, CA $86,014

Modesto, CA $85,428

Poughkeepsie, NY $85,251

Olympia, WA $85,099

Kennewick, WA $85,099

New Haven, CT $85,067

Lawrence, MA $84,778

Hartford, CT $84,698

Riverside, CA $84,682

New Bedford, MA $84,601

Richland, WA $84,601

Bakersfield, CA $84,489

San Bernardino, CA $84,457

New Britain, CT $84,449

Atlantic City, NJ $84,449

New London, CT $84,417

Norwich, CT $84,393

Portsmouth, NH $84,377

Boulder, CO $84,207

Portland, OR $84,096

Worcester, MA $84,088

Minneapolis, MN $83,839

Philadelphia, PA $83,727

Honolulu, HI $83,462

Saint Paul, MN $83,423

Vineland, NJ $83,406

Providence, RI $83,173

Chicago, IL $82,940

Bellingham, WA $82,844

Springfield, MA $82,779

Baltimore, MD $82,755

Chico, CA $82,555

Pittsfield, MA $82,338

Manchester, NH $82,186

Spokane, WA $81,832

Denver, CO $81,824

Albany, NY $81,447

Troy, NY $81,415

Nassau, NY $81,329

Schenectady, NY $81,247

Wilmington, DE $81,182

Burlington, VT $81,070

Salem, OR $81,038

Portland, ME $80,789

Yakima, WA $80,709

Rochester, MN $80,460

Reno, NV $80,420

Fresno, CA $80,420

Milwaukee, WI $80,348

Detroit, MI $80,267

Ann Arbor, MI $80,254

Allentown, PA $80,243

Colorado Springs, CO $80,107

Syracuse, NY $80,067

Carson City, NV $80,067

Houston, TX $79,954

Eugene, OR $79,914

Gary, IN $79,818

Springfield, OR $79,754

Bismarck, ND $79,738

Galveston, TX $79,681

Medford, OR $79,561

Fort Collins, CO $79,529

Concord, NH $79,489

Austin, TX $79,465

Mesa, AZ $79,296

Reading, PA $79,288

Phoenix, AZ $79,280

Dallas, TX $79,256

Saint Cloud, MN $79,179

Madison, WI $79,072

Utica, NY $78,855

Rochester, NY $78,726

Des Moines, IA $78,718

Raleigh, NC $78,710

Atlanta, GA $78,590

Battle Creek, MI $78,566

Salt Lake City, UT $78,542

Lancaster, PA $78,421

Harrisburg, PA $78,309

Kansas City, MO $78,229

Champaign, IL $78,213

Kansas City, KS $78,213

Fort Worth, TX $78,205

Columbus, OH $78,191

Boca Raton, FL $78,173

Pittsburgh, PA $78,141

Richmond, VA $78,108

Indianapolis, IN $78,092

Cleveland, OH $78,084

Las Vegas, NV $77,988

Cincinnati, OH $77,988

Petersburg, VA $77,868

Huntsville, AL $77,747

Lansing, MI $77,693

Lebanon, PA $77,683

Pueblo, CO $77,675

Appleton, WI $77,651

Buffalo, NY $77,619

Dayton, OH $77,595

Racine, WI $77,579

Charlotte, NC $77,571

Saint Louis, MO $77,547

York, PA $77,498

Elkhart, IN $77,498

Gastonia, NC $77,483

Billings, MT $77,464

Beaumont, TX $77,442

Lorain, OH $77,426

Benton Harbor, MI $77,410

Toledo, OH $77,394

Binghamton, NY $77,354

Rock Hill, SC $77,346

Rockford, IL $77,306

Springfield, IL $77,274

Elyria, OH $77,266

Fargo, ND $77,266

Flagstaff, AZ $77,209

Fort Lauderdale, FL $77,161

Duluth, MN $77,113

Miami, FL $77,113

Cheyenne, WY $77,057

Grand Forks, ND $77,057

Bangor, ME $76,880

Cedar Rapids, IA $76,792

Durham, NC $76,758

Louisville, KY $76,752

Grand Rapids, MI $76,736

Hialeah, FL $76,728

Casper, WY $76,616

Scranton, PA $76,519

New Orleans, LA $76,495

Virginia Beach, VA $76,487

Akron, OH $76,447

Peoria, IL $76,343

Sarasota, FL $76,327

Nashville, TN $76,270

Omaha, NE $76,270

Green Bay, WI $76,270

Baton Rouge, LA $76,230

Charleston, SC $76,214

Jamestown, NY $76,174

Davenport, IA $76,174

Tucson, AZ $76,134

Saint Petersburg, FL $76,086

Tampa, FL $76,070

Evansville, IN $76,022

Port Arthur, TX $76,022

Bradenton, FL $75,990

Santa Fe, NM $75,845

Orlando, FL $75,701

Clearwater, FL $75,677

Canton, OH $75,508

La Crosse, WI $75,508

Albuquerque, NM $75,460

Newport News, VA $75,452

High Point, NC $75,428

Ogden, UT $75,396

Corpus Christi, TX $75,331

Norfolk, VA $75,283

Laramie, WY $75,283

Rock Island, IL $75,235

Saginaw, MI $75,219

Jacksonville, FL $75,211

Salisbury, NC $75,195

Boise, ID $75,179

Moline, IL $75,139

Fort Myers, FL $75,115

Memphis, TN $75,099

Tulsa, OK $75,059

Waterloo, IA $75,010

Spartanburg, SC $74,930

Lincoln, NE $74,890

Fort Wayne, IN $74,874

Provo, UT $74,866

Cedar Falls, IA $74,770

San Antonio, TX $74,738

Greensboro, NC $74,705

South Bend, IN $74,697

Savannah, GA $74,609

Muskegon, MI $74,577

Birmingham, AL $74,569

Winston Salem, NC $74,530

Lake Charles, LA $74,336

Anderson, IN $74,320

Lexington, KY $74,296

Augusta, GA $74,272

Greenville, SC $74,272

Lima, OH $74,208

Wichita, KS $74,200

Tuscaloosa, AL $74,200

Columbia, SC $74,128

Springfield, OH $74,111

Asheville, NC $73,983

Bloomington, IN $73,927

Knoxville, TN $73,638

Shreveport, LA $73,630

Wilmington, NC $73,526

Roanoke, VA $73,526

Topeka, KS $73,381

Frankfort, KY $73,372

Oklahoma City, OK $73,317

Chillicothe, OH $73,285

Longview, TX $73,277

Melbourne, FL $73,269

Sioux Falls, SD $73,140

Mobile, AL $73,132

Terre Haute, IN $73,100

Altoona, PA $73,052

Amarillo, TX $72,996

Killeen, TX $72,972

Fayetteville, AR $72,908

Chattanooga, TN $72,884

Sioux City, IA $72,811

Idaho Falls, ID $72,795

Lynchburg, VA $72,731

Gainesville, FL $72,627

Portsmouth, OH $72,587

Little Rock, AR $72,571

Lafayette, LA $72,538

Youngstown, OH $72,538

Daytona Beach, FL $72,490

Clarksville, TN $72,482

Pensacola, FL $72,474

Temple, TX $72,469

Hopkinsville, KY $72,233

Erie, PA $72,217

Florence, SC $72,185

Charleston, WV $72,057

Great Falls, MT $72,017

Macon, GA $71,904

Tallahassee, FL $71,896

Fayetteville, NC $71,880

Waco, TX $71,864

Helena, MT $71,808

Pine Bluff, AR $71,778

Vincennes, IN $71,680

Lubbock, TX $71,648

Alamogordo, NM $71,599

Twin Falls, ID $71,527

Rapid City, SD $71,503

Jackson, MS $71,359

Huntington, WV $71,353

Greenville, MS $71,351

Parkersburg, WV $71,269

Montgomery, AL $71,254

Wichita Falls, TX $71,174

Springfield, MO $71,174

Biloxi, MS $71,134

Monroe, LA $71,054

Johnstown, PA $70,997

Sumter, SC $70,965

Columbus, GA $70,957

Pascagoula, MS $70,805

Abilene, TX $70,805

Kingsport, TN $70,596

Albany, GA $70,596

Gulfport, MS $70,572

Alexandria, LA $70,307

Fort Smith, AR $70,107

El Paso, TX $69,890

Las Cruces, NM $69,529

Harlingen, TX $69,325

Pocatello, ID $69,312

Florence, AL $69,208

Brownsville, TX $69,192

Mcallen, TX $69,023

Dothan, AL $68,911

Columbus, MS $68,434

Altus, OK $68,060

Lawton, OK $67,907

Pierre, SD $67,619

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Water/Wastewater Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $89,434. While startup companies pay approximate $75,808.

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$75,808
Growth Stage	51~500	$80,131
Established	501~5000	$86,379
Enterprise	5000+	$89,434

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Water/Wastewater 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.

$68,788

Average $80,259/year

$87,112

$5,732

Average $6,688/month

$7,259

$1,323

Average $1,543/week

$1,675

$33

Average $39/hour

$42

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$87,112	$7,259	$1,675	$42
Average	$80,259	$6,688	$1,543	$39
25th Percentile	$68,788	$5,732	$1,323	$33

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Next Role

Advancement

Water/Wastewater Engineer II Water/Wastewater Engineering Senior Manager

For a Water/Wastewater Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Water/Wastewater Engineer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $95,877 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Water/Wastewater Engineer I

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

Common company salaries for Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Water/Wastewater Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Water/Wastewater Engineer I

1. Where can a Water/Wastewater Engineer I earn the most?

A Water/Wastewater Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Water/Wastewater Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Water/Wastewater Engineer I is $101,231.

2. What is the highest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

The highest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I is $93,351.

3. What is the lowest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

The lowest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I is $58,343.

4. What are the responsibilities of Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

Designs and develops water and wastewater systems to address water resource management, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management while ensuring regulatory and environmental compliance. Designs water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management systems and infrastructure. Prepares engineering plans, specifications, calculations, and technical reports. Ensures designs and projects comply with regulatory and environmental requirements. Provides field support and oversight during construction and system operations. Conducts site investigations, inspections, and assessments to support project work. Coordinates with regulatory agencies and stakeholders on permitting and compliance. Requires a bachelor's degree. 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.

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.)

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Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Water/Wastewater Engineer I make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries

How Do Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Water/Wastewater Engineer Is

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Most common benefits for Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Common company salaries for Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Find Your Next Water/Wastewater Engineer I Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Water/Wastewater Engineer I

1. Where can a Water/Wastewater Engineer I earn the most?

2. What is the highest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

3. What is the lowest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

4. What are the responsibilities of Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Water/Wastewater Engineer I make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries

How Do Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Water/Wastewater Engineer Is

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Water/Wastewater Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Most common benefits for Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Common company salaries for Water/Wastewater Engineer I

Find Your Next Water/Wastewater Engineer I Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Water/Wastewater Engineer I

1. Where can a Water/Wastewater Engineer I earn the most?

2. What is the highest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

3. What is the lowest pay for Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

4. What are the responsibilities of Water/Wastewater Engineer I?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?