Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Level Environmental Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Environmental Engineer in the United States is $78,051 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,465
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,543 to $86,119
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,619

Key Factors That Influence Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salaries

An Entry Level 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 Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $77,458
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,505
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,775
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,581
  • Expert (over 8 years): $159,427
Levels Salary
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer$77,458
Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer$90,505
Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer$106,775
Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer$130,581
Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer$159,427

Top Paying Cities for Entry Level 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: $98,446
  • San Francisco: $97,368
  • Oakland: $95,316

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Level Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.38% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • Chemical Engineering (Mentioned in 1.52% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.38%
Design Engineering 2.13%
Chemical Engineering 1.52%

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 an Entry Level Environmental Engineer's salary.

  • CAD: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • 3D Modeling: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CAD $85,856
10%
3D Modeling $85,856
10%
Collaboration $83,514
7%

Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Level Environmental Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Entry Level Environmental Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Level Environmental Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Level Environmental Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$105,369$51.035%
Biotechnology$101,466$49.030%
Energy & Utilities$93,661$45.020%
Financial Services$93,661$45.020%
Internet$89,759$43.015%

How Education impacts an Entry Level Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Level 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 an Entry Level Environmental Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $70,991 and $75,776).

Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Level Environmental Engineer
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%

Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Level 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 September 01, 2026
$71,543
Average $78,051/year
$86,119
$5,962
Average $6,504/month
$7,177
$1,376
Average $1,501/week
$1,656
$34
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $86,119 $7,177 $1,656 $41
Average $78,051 $6,504 $1,501 $38
25th Percentile $71,543 $5,962 $1,376 $34

Most common benefits for Entry Level Environmental Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Entry Level Environmental Engineer

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

Find Your Next Entry Level Environmental Engineer Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Entry Level Environmental Engineer

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Level Environmental Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 35% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst