Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer in the United States is $94,455 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

However, a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,707
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,681 to $104,009
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,781
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View as table View as graph 25% $84,681 10% $75,781 90% $112,707 75% $104,009 $94,455 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,009 $8,667 $2,000 $50
Average $94,455 $7,871 $1,816 $45
25th Percentile $84,681 $7,057 $1,628 $41
Check out Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Water/Wastewater Senior Project Manager

Johnson, Mirmiran, and Thompson Inc. - Columbus, OH

Senior Project Engineer- Water/Wastewater Treatment

ms consultants, inc. - Columbus, OH

Water / Wastewater Project Manager

HDR - Columbus, OH

Principal Wastewater Engineer

T&M Associates - Columbus, OH

Search More Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salaries

A Water Wastewater Sr 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 Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Water Wastewater Sr 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): $90,035
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,481
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,522
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $92,712
  • Expert (over 8 years): $94,736
Levels Salary
Entry Level Water Wastewater Sr Engineer$90,035
Intermediate Level Water Wastewater Sr Engineer$90,481
Senior Level Water Wastewater Sr Engineer$91,522
Specialist Level Water Wastewater Sr Engineer$92,712
Expert Level Water Wastewater Sr Engineer$94,736
$90,035 0 yr
$90,481 < 2 yrs
$91,522 2-4 yrs
$92,712 5-8 yrs
$94,736 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Water Wastewater Sr Engineer 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 Water Wastewater Sr Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $104,581.
  • California: $104,184.
  • Massachusetts: $102,796.

Top Paying Cities for Water Wastewater Sr 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: $119,137
  • San Francisco: $117,832
  • Oakland: $115,349

What Skills Can Increase a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 7.58% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Civil Engineering (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways. Civil engineering is traditionally broken into a number of sub-disciplines. It is considered the second-oldest engineering discipline after military engineering, and it is defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering. Civil engineering takes place in the public sector from municipal through to national governments, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.
  • Quality Control (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): Developing and implementing a set of procedures intended to maintain the quality of a product and reduce any risks or errors.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 7.58%
Civil Engineering 2.02%
Quality Control 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 a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer's salary.
  • Client Relationship: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Client Management: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Client Relationship
$121,847
29%
Business Development
$113,346
20%
Client Management
$111,457
18%
Environmental Engineering
$110,513
17%
Project Design
$110,513
17%
Civil Engineering
$110,513
17%
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Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Water Wastewater Sr Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Water Wastewater Sr Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Water Wastewater Sr Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$113,346$54.020%
MFG Durable$106,735$51.013%
Aerospace & Defense$103,901$50.010%
Biotechnology$102,012$49.08%
Healthcare$99,178$48.05%

How Education impacts a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Water Wastewater Sr 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 a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $92,227 and $96,416).

Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 43.2%
High School 43.2%
Associates 27.3%
Bachelors 27.3%
Masters 2.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Water Wastewater Sr 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer

Salaries for a Water Wastewater Sr Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $85,587 in 2023 to around $85,129 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Water Wastewater Sr Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$85,587
2024
$85,609
2025
$85,129
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $85,587
2024 $85,609
2025 $85,129
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Water Wastewater Sr Engineer Job

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

United States
  • Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Make an impact. Change lives. Live a Legacy. Experience a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant career that's full of joy, purpose, and opportunities to... more

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  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    17 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • 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

    27 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

    27 Days Ago

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FAQ about Water Wastewater Sr Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Water Wastewater Sr Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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