Environmental Engineer/Planner Salary in the United States

How much does an Environmental Engineer/Planner make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Environmental Engineer/Planner in the United States is $68,932 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,799
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,826 to $77,761
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,447

Key Factors That Influence Environmental Engineer/Planner Salaries

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

How Do Environmental Engineer/Planner 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 Environmental Engineer/Planners. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,321.
  • California: $76,031.
  • Massachusetts: $75,018.

Top Paying Cities for Environmental Engineer/Planners

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: $86,943
  • San Francisco: $85,991
  • Oakland: $84,179

What Skills Can Increase an Environmental Engineer/Planner's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 40.31% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Supply Chain (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): A supply chain encompasses everything from the delivery of source materials from the supplier to the manufacturer through to its eventual delivery to the end user.
  • Community Development (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): The United Nations defines community development as "a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems." It is a broad concept, applied to the practices of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens, and professionals to improve various aspects of communities, typically aiming to build stronger and more resilient local communities. Community development is also understood as a professional discipline, and is defined by the International Association for Community Development (www.iacdglobal.org), the global network of community development practitioners and scholars, as "a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable development, rights, economic opportunity, equality and social justice, through the organisation, education and empowerment of people within their communities, whether these be of locality, identity or interest, in urban and rural settings".
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 40.31%
Supply Chain 1.77%
Community Development 1.3%

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 Environmental Engineer/Planner's salary.

  • Purchasing: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Purchasing $76,514
11%
Organizational Skills $71,689
4%
Commitment $71,689
4%

Environmental Engineer/Planner Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Environmental Engineer/Planner roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Environmental Engineer/Planner positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Environmental Engineer/Planner as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Environmental Engineer/Planner

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$86,164$41.025%
Financial Services$82,718$40.020%
Software & Networking$82,718$40.020%
Energy & Utilities$79,271$38.015%
Pharmaceuticals$79,271$38.015%

How Education impacts an Environmental Engineer/Planner's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Environmental Engineer/Planners enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Environmental Engineer/Planner with a No Diploma is between $63,207 and $69,039).

Environmental Engineer/Planner Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Environmental Engineer/Planner
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.5%
High School 6.5%
Associates 3.2%
Bachelors 35.5%
Masters 51.6%
Doctorate 3.2%

Environmental Engineer/Planner Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Environmental Engineer/Planner'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 October 01, 2026
$60,826
Average $68,932/year
$77,761
$5,069
Average $5,744/month
$6,480
$1,170
Average $1,326/week
$1,495
$29
Average $33/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $77,761 $6,480 $1,495 $37
Average $68,932 $5,744 $1,326 $33
25th Percentile $60,826 $5,069 $1,170 $29

Most common benefits for Environmental Engineer/Planner

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

Common company salaries for Environmental Engineer/Planner

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

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FAQ about Environmental Engineer/Planner

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Environmental Engineer/Planner?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Environmental Engineer/Planner roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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.

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