Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Environmental Engineer in Illinois is $79,558 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:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
Entry Level Environmental Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $87,787 | $7,316 | $1,688 | $42 |
| Average | $79,558 | $6,630 | $1,530 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,924 | $6,077 | $1,402 | $35 |
SynergisticIT - Springfield, IL
Just In Time Staffing LLC - Elgin, IL
DMC Engineering - Chicago, IL
L2x Talent Solutions - Bolingbrook, IL
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer | $78,953 |
| Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer | $92,253 |
| Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer | $108,834 |
| Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer | $133,098 |
| Environme... Level Entry Level Environmental Engineer | $162,507 |
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 Entry Level Environmental Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $107,403 | $52.0 | 35% |
| Biotechnology | $103,425 | $50.0 | 30% |
| Energy & Utilities | $95,469 | $46.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $95,469 | $46.0 | 20% |
| Internet | $91,491 | $44.0 | 15% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $87,787 | $7,316 | $1,688 | $42 |
| Average | $79,558 | $6,630 | $1,530 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,924 | $6,077 | $1,402 | $35 |
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.
In-finite Search Solutions
Chicago, IL
In-finite Search Solutions | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Entry Level Position: College Graduate - 2 years experience. This role will require 40-50%+ travel. . Responsibilites. De... more
8 Days Ago
DMC Engineering
Chicago, IL
DMC Engineering | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. (Hybrid). Description. Interested in a role where you can travel extensively and be at the center of real-world engineeri... more
4 Days Ago
Interlake Mecalux
Melrose Park, IL
Interlake Mecalux | Melrose Park, IL
Entry Level Technical Sales Engineer. We are hiring a Junior Technical Sales Engineer to join our team in our corporate office in Melrose Park, IL for 6 to... more
5 Days Ago
The Planet Group
Bradley, IL
The Planet Group | Bradley, IL
Job Title: Environmental Specialist (Entry Level). Location: Bradley, IL. Starting Pay: Up to $25/hr for entry level. Schedule: 8a-4p sometimes 7a-3p. Cont... more
7 Days Ago
The Planet Group
Prospect Heights, IL
The Planet Group | Prospect Heights, IL
Job Title: Environmental Field Chemist (Entry Level). Location: Prospect Heights, IL. Starting Pay: Up to $25/hr for entry level. Contact to Hire - 6 month... more
4 Days Ago
ITC, Inc.
Peoria, IL
ITC, Inc. | Peoria, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Our large manufacturing client located in Peoria, Illinois, is looking for an entry-level Manufacturing Engineer to add t... more
4 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
