Waste Management Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Waste Management Engineer make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Waste Management Engineer in the United States is $41,467 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,317
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,778 to $44,006
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,509
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View as table View as graph 25% $36,778 10% $32,509 90% $46,317 75% $44,006 $41,467 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Waste Management Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $44,006 $3,667 $846 $21
Average $41,467 $3,456 $797 $20
25th Percentile $36,778 $3,065 $707 $18
Check out Waste Management Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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Jobot - Columbus, OH

Sales Account Manager

Nexeo Solutions LLC - Dublin, OH

CDL Recovery Technician Recycling&amp Waste Management Services

GFL Environmental - Northwood, OH

Senior Engineer Data Management

Abercrombie and Fitch Co. - Lancaster, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Waste Management Engineer Salaries

A Waste Management 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Waste Management Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Waste Management 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-Level (less than 1 year): $41,011
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,337
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,793
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,508
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,145
Levels Salary
Entry Level Waste Management Engineer$41,011
Intermediate Level Waste Management Engineer$41,337
Senior Level Waste Management Engineer$41,793
Specialist Level Waste Management Engineer$42,508
Expert Level Waste Management Engineer$43,145
$41,011 0 yr
$41,337 < 2 yrs
$41,793 2-4 yrs
$42,508 5-8 yrs
$43,145 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Waste Management 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: $52,302
  • San Francisco: $51,730
  • Oakland: $50,639

What Skills Can Increase a Waste Management Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.81% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Oral Hygiene (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): The practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease-free. It involves brushing and flossing your teeth as well as visiting your dentist regularly for dental X-rays, exams and cleanings.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.81%
Acute Care 3.29%
Oral Hygiene 2.61%
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 Waste Management Engineer's salary.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Written English: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Planning
$50,590
22%
Written English
$49,346
19%
Initiative
$46,858
13%
Patient Safety
$46,028
11%
Communicates Effectively
$45,199
9%
Pediatric
$44,784
8%
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Waste Management Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Waste Management Engineer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Waste Management Engineer positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Waste Management Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Waste Management Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$45,614$22.010%

Waste Management Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Waste Management 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

Salary Trends for Waste Management Engineer

Salaries for a Waste Management Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $49,570 in 2023 to around $50,188 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Waste Management Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Waste Management Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$49,570
2024
$50,357
2025
$50,188
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $49,570
2024 $50,357
2025 $50,188
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Waste Management Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Waste Management Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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