Principal Environmental Consultant Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Environmental Consultant make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Environmental Consultant in the United States is $102,836 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,805
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,610 to $108,054
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,210
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View as table View as graph 25% $93,610 10% $85,210 90% $112,805 75% $108,054 $102,836 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Environmental Consultant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $108,054 $9,005 $2,078 $52
Average $102,836 $8,570 $1,978 $49
25th Percentile $93,610 $7,801 $1,800 $45
Check out Principal Environmental Consultant Job Openings in the United States
Chief AI Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Regional Truck Driver Company

KreilKamp Trucking - Columbus, OH

Search More Principal Environmental Consultant Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Principal Environmental Consultant Salaries

A Principal Environmental Consultant'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Principal Environmental Consultant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Environmental Consultant'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-Level (less than 1 year): $100,914
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $101,555
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $102,836
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $105,566
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,113
Levels Salary
Entry Level Principal Environmental Consultant$100,914
Intermediate Level Principal Environmental Consultant$101,555
Senior Level Principal Environmental Consultant$102,836
Specialist Level Principal Environmental Consultant$105,566
Expert Level Principal Environmental Consultant$107,113
$100,914 0 yr
$101,555 < 2 yrs
$102,836 2-4 yrs
$105,566 5-8 yrs
$107,113 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Environmental Consultant 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 Principal Environmental Consultants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $113,860.
  • California: $113,428.
  • Massachusetts: $111,916.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Environmental Consultants

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: $129,707
  • San Francisco: $128,287
  • Oakland: $125,583

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Environmental Consultant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.34% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.23% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Food Preparation (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to food preparation: Food preparation – art form and applied science that includes but is not limited to cooking.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.34%
Microsoft Office 2.23%
Food Preparation 1.95%
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 Principal Environmental Consultant's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Logistics: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
$114,148
11%
Logistics
$112,091
9%
Consulting
$110,035
7%
Collaboration
$110,035
7%
Troubleshooting
$109,006
6%
Problem Solving
$109,006
6%
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Principal Environmental Consultant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Environmental Consultant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 103% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Principal Environmental Consultant positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Environmental Consultant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Environmental Consultant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$133,687$64.030%
Biotechnology$128,545$62.025%
Pharmaceuticals$123,403$59.020%
Software & Networking$121,346$58.018%
Aerospace & Defense$118,261$57.015%

Principal Environmental Consultant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Environmental Consultant'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Principal Environmental Consultant

Salaries for a Principal Environmental Consultant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $98,325 in 2023 to around $98,040 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Environmental Consultant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Environmental Consultant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$98,325
2024
$98,478
2025
$98,040
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $98,325
2024 $98,478
2025 $98,040
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Environmental Consultant

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

Here are companies hiring for Principal Environmental Consultant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Principal Environmental Consultant Job

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

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CUSO. About the Company. Technology-focused organization providing data analytics, AI, consulting, and talent solutions for ... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Principal Environmental Consultant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Principal Environmental Consultant?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Environmental Consultant roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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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