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Principal Environmental Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Environmental Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Environmental Engineer in the United States is $148,782 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $169,998
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $136,289 to $159,887
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $124,915
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $136,289 10% $124,915 90% $169,998 75% $159,887 $148,782 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Environmental Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $159,887 $13,324 $3,075 $77
Average $148,782 $12,399 $2,861 $72
25th Percentile $136,289 $11,357 $2,621 $66
Check out Principal Environmental Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Principal Engineer

T&M Associates - Columbus, OH

Principal Engineer

ANS - Columbus, OH

Senior Principal Engineer

Hazen and Sawyer - Columbus, OH

Senior or Principal Engineer

Toole Design - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Principal Environmental Engineer Salaries

A Principal 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 Principal Environmental Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal 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): $106,975
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $125,299
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $149,650
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $194,858
  • Expert (over 8 years): $85,329
Levels Salary
Civil Eng... Level Principal Environmental Engineer$106,975
Civil Eng... Level Principal Environmental Engineer$125,299
Principal... Level Principal Environmental Engineer$149,650
Civil Eng... Level Principal Environmental Engineer$194,858
Civil Eng... Level Principal Environmental Engineer$85,329
$106,975 0 yr
$125,299 < 2 yrs
$149,650 2-4 yrs
$194,858 5-8 yrs
$85,329 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Principal Environmental 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 Principal Environmental Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $164,731.
  • California: $164,107.
  • Massachusetts: $161,919.

Top Paying Cities for Principal 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: $187,659
  • San Francisco: $185,604
  • Oakland: $181,693

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.21% 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.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.01% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • Public Works (Mentioned in 1.2% Job Postings): Public works are a broad category of infrastructure projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.21%
Hydraulics 2.01%
Public Works 1.2%
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 Principal Environmental Engineer's salary.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Aviation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Science
 $191,929
29%
Networking
 $169,611
14%
Aviation
 $162,172
9%
Azure
 $160,685
8%
Customer Service
 $160,685
8%
Microsoft Word
 $159,197
7%
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Principal Environmental Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Environmental Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Principal Environmental Engineer positions in Media or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Environmental Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Environmental Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$185,978$89.025%
Pharmaceuticals$178,538$86.020%
Internet$171,099$82.015%
Aerospace & Defense$156,221$75.05%
Construction$156,221$75.05%

How Education impacts a Principal Environmental Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal 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 a Principal Environmental Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $157,745 and $167,800).

Principal Environmental Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Environmental Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 0.7%
Associates 1.1%
Bachelors 60.0%
Masters 33.0%
Doctorate 4.8%
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Principal Environmental Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$136,289
Average $148,782/year
$159,887
$11,357
Average $12,399/month
$13,324
$2,621
Average $2,861/week
$3,075
$66
Average $72/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $159,887 $13,324 $3,075 $77
Average $148,782 $12,399 $2,861 $72
25th Percentile $136,289 $11,357 $2,621 $66

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Environmental Engineer

Salary Trends for Principal Environmental Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Environmental Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $130,197 in 2023 to around $129,424 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Environmental Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Environmental Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$130,197
2024
$130,160
2025
$129,424
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $130,197
2024 $130,160
2025 $129,424
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Environmental Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Principal Environmental Engineer Job

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

United States

  • Compass Tech International

    Columbus, OH

    Sr Environmental Engineer

    Compass Tech International | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Environmental Engineer III. Greater Columbus Ohio area. A. Global OEM Manufacturer. is looking for a. Position. to join t... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Westlake

    Columbus, OH

    Regional Environmental Engineer

    Westlake | Columbus, OH

    SUMMARY. Reports to HSE Manager with consultative direction from the Environmental Center of Excellence as needed. Plans, directs, and manages the environm... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

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

    14 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

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FAQ about Principal Environmental Engineer

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Environmental Engineer 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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