What are the main factors that influence a Water Quality Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Water Quality Engineer's salary?

A Water Quality Engineer's salary grows with experience: an Water Quality Engineer (4-7 years)earns $92,644, a Claims Processing Supervisor - Healthcare (7+ years)earns $74,095, a Claims Processing Manager - Healthcare (7+ years)earns $103,094, a Claims Processing Director - Healthcare (7+ years)earns $159,112,

What are the highest paying states for a Water Quality Engineer?

Water Quality Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Water Quality Engineer roles are District of Columbia $101,916, California $101,529, Massachusetts $100,176. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Water Quality Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Water Quality Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Water Quality Manager: $131,721; Water Resources Engineer: $106,909; Water Quality Specialist: $101,387; Water Engineer: $95,165; Water Quality Analyst: $82,483.

How do different companies affect a Water Quality Engineer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Water Quality Engineer roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Water Quality Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Water Quality Engineer in the United States is $92,048 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,118
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,464 to $100,983
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,649

10% $75,649

50% (Median) $92,048

90% $109,118

Water Quality Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,983	$8,415	$1,942	$49
Average	$92,048	$7,671	$1,770	$44
25th Percentile	$83,464	$6,955	$1,605	$40

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Water Quality Engineer Salaries

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

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

District of Columbia: $101,916.
California: $101,529.
Massachusetts: $100,176.

District of Columbia $101,916 California $101,529 Massachusetts $100,176 Washington $99,808 New Jersey $99,771 Alaska $99,642 Connecticut $98,372 New York $97,856

Hawaii $96,209 Rhode Island $95,435 Maryland $94,911 Minnesota $94,193 Colorado $93,917 Illinois $93,825 Oregon $93,475 Delaware $93,217

New Hampshire $93,055 Virginia $92,692 Pennsylvania $91,634 Nevada $91,100 North Dakota $90,925 Michigan $90,649 Wisconsin $90,548 Vermont $90,345

Texas $89,784 Maine $89,747 Arizona $89,692 Ohio $89,627 Georgia $88,780 Indiana $88,357 Wyoming $88,274 Utah $88,145

Iowa $88,090 Kansas $87,648 Louisiana $87,519 North Carolina $87,473 Missouri $87,455 Florida $87,096 Montana $86,903 Nebraska $86,719

Kentucky $86,617 South Carolina $86,249 Tennessee $86,019 Idaho $85,927 New Mexico $85,255 Oklahoma $85,108 Alabama $84,565 South Dakota $83,653

Arkansas $83,156 West Virginia $82,889 Mississippi $82,088

Top Paying Cities for Water Quality 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: $116,100
San Francisco: $114,829
Oakland: $112,409

San Jose, CA $116,100

San Francisco, CA $114,829

Oakland, CA $112,409

New York, NY $105,983

Paramus, NJ $104,695

Queens Village, NY $104,690

Passaic, NJ $104,603

Bergenfield, NJ $104,594

Stamford, CT $104,392

Huntington, NY $104,354

Newark, NJ $103,674

Bridgeport, CT $103,480

Vallejo, CA $103,296

New Brunswick, NJ $103,260

Petaluma, CA $103,204

Middlesex, NJ $103,029

Somerset, NJ $102,965

Santa Cruz, CA $102,845

Boston, MA $102,284

Monterey, CA $101,961

Seattle, WA $101,750

Santa Rosa, CA $101,732

Los Angeles, CA $101,704

Juneau, AK $101,465

Washington, DC $101,363

Orange, CA $101,036

Santa Ana, CA $100,793

Long Beach, CA $100,701

Anaheim, CA $100,682

Anchorage, AK $100,636

Santa Maria, CA $100,360

Everett, WA $100,342

Danbury, CT $100,018

Bremerton, WA $99,891

Tacoma, WA $99,559

New Suffolk, NY $99,557

Sacramento, CA $99,532

Santa Barbara, CA $99,430

Trenton, NJ $99,329

San Diego, CA $99,329

Brockton, MA $99,228

Fairbanks, AK $99,002

Lompoc, CA $98,768

Lowell, MA $98,693

Ventura, CA $98,676

Nashua, NH $98,657

Stockton, CA $98,648

Modesto, CA $97,976

Poughkeepsie, NY $97,773

Olympia, WA $97,599

Kennewick, WA $97,599

New Haven, CT $97,562

Lawrence, MA $97,230

Hartford, CT $97,138

Riverside, CA $97,120

New Bedford, MA $97,028

Richland, WA $97,028

Bakersfield, CA $96,899

San Bernardino, CA $96,862

New Britain, CT $96,853

Atlantic City, NJ $96,853

New London, CT $96,816

Norwich, CT $96,789

Portsmouth, NH $96,770

Boulder, CO $96,575

Portland, OR $96,448

Worcester, MA $96,439

Minneapolis, MN $96,153

Philadelphia, PA $96,025

Honolulu, HI $95,721

Saint Paul, MN $95,677

Vineland, NJ $95,656

Providence, RI $95,389

Chicago, IL $95,123

Bellingham, WA $95,012

Springfield, MA $94,938

Baltimore, MD $94,911

Chico, CA $94,681

Pittsfield, MA $94,432

Manchester, NH $94,257

Spokane, WA $93,852

Denver, CO $93,843

Albany, NY $93,410

Troy, NY $93,374

Nassau, NY $93,275

Schenectady, NY $93,180

Wilmington, DE $93,107

Burlington, VT $92,978

Salem, OR $92,941

Portland, ME $92,656

Yakima, WA $92,564

Rochester, MN $92,278

Reno, NV $92,232

Fresno, CA $92,232

Milwaukee, WI $92,149

Detroit, MI $92,057

Ann Arbor, MI $92,042

Allentown, PA $92,030

Colorado Springs, CO $91,873

Syracuse, NY $91,827

Carson City, NV $91,827

Houston, TX $91,698

Eugene, OR $91,652

Gary, IN $91,542

Springfield, OR $91,468

Bismarck, ND $91,450

Galveston, TX $91,385

Medford, OR $91,247

Fort Collins, CO $91,210

Concord, NH $91,164

Austin, TX $91,137

Mesa, AZ $90,944

Reading, PA $90,934

Phoenix, AZ $90,925

Dallas, TX $90,897

Saint Cloud, MN $90,809

Madison, WI $90,686

Utica, NY $90,437

Rochester, NY $90,290

Des Moines, IA $90,281

Raleigh, NC $90,272

Atlanta, GA $90,133

Battle Creek, MI $90,106

Salt Lake City, UT $90,078

Lancaster, PA $89,940

Harrisburg, PA $89,811

Kansas City, MO $89,719

Champaign, IL $89,701

Kansas City, KS $89,701

Fort Worth, TX $89,692

Columbus, OH $89,676

Boca Raton, FL $89,655

Pittsburgh, PA $89,618

Richmond, VA $89,581

Indianapolis, IN $89,563

Cleveland, OH $89,554

Las Vegas, NV $89,443

Cincinnati, OH $89,443

Petersburg, VA $89,305

Huntsville, AL $89,167

Lansing, MI $89,105

Lebanon, PA $89,093

Pueblo, CO $89,084

Appleton, WI $89,057

Buffalo, NY $89,020

Dayton, OH $88,992

Racine, WI $88,974

Charlotte, NC $88,964

Saint Louis, MO $88,937

York, PA $88,882

Elkhart, IN $88,882

Gastonia, NC $88,864

Billings, MT $88,842

Beaumont, TX $88,817

Lorain, OH $88,799

Benton Harbor, MI $88,780

Toledo, OH $88,762

Binghamton, NY $88,716

Rock Hill, SC $88,707

Rockford, IL $88,661

Springfield, IL $88,624

Elyria, OH $88,615

Fargo, ND $88,615

Flagstaff, AZ $88,550

Fort Lauderdale, FL $88,495

Duluth, MN $88,440

Miami, FL $88,440

Cheyenne, WY $88,375

Grand Forks, ND $88,375

Bangor, ME $88,173

Cedar Rapids, IA $88,072

Durham, NC $88,033

Louisville, KY $88,026

Grand Rapids, MI $88,007

Hialeah, FL $87,998

Casper, WY $87,869

Scranton, PA $87,759

New Orleans, LA $87,731

Virginia Beach, VA $87,722

Akron, OH $87,676

Peoria, IL $87,556

Sarasota, FL $87,538

Nashville, TN $87,473

Omaha, NE $87,473

Green Bay, WI $87,473

Baton Rouge, LA $87,427

Charleston, SC $87,409

Jamestown, NY $87,363

Davenport, IA $87,363

Tucson, AZ $87,317

Saint Petersburg, FL $87,262

Tampa, FL $87,243

Evansville, IN $87,188

Port Arthur, TX $87,188

Bradenton, FL $87,151

Santa Fe, NM $86,985

Orlando, FL $86,820

Clearwater, FL $86,792

Canton, OH $86,599

La Crosse, WI $86,599

Albuquerque, NM $86,544

Newport News, VA $86,534

High Point, NC $86,507

Ogden, UT $86,470

Corpus Christi, TX $86,396

Norfolk, VA $86,341

Laramie, WY $86,341

Rock Island, IL $86,286

Saginaw, MI $86,267

Jacksonville, FL $86,258

Salisbury, NC $86,240

Boise, ID $86,221

Moline, IL $86,175

Fort Myers, FL $86,148

Memphis, TN $86,129

Tulsa, OK $86,083

Waterloo, IA $86,028

Spartanburg, SC $85,936

Lincoln, NE $85,890

Fort Wayne, IN $85,872

Provo, UT $85,862

Cedar Falls, IA $85,752

San Antonio, TX $85,715

Greensboro, NC $85,678

South Bend, IN $85,669

Savannah, GA $85,568

Muskegon, MI $85,531

Birmingham, AL $85,522

Winston Salem, NC $85,477

Lake Charles, LA $85,255

Anderson, IN $85,237

Lexington, KY $85,209

Augusta, GA $85,181

Greenville, SC $85,181

Lima, OH $85,108

Wichita, KS $85,098

Tuscaloosa, AL $85,098

Columbia, SC $85,016

Springfield, OH $84,997

Asheville, NC $84,850

Bloomington, IN $84,786

Knoxville, TN $84,454

Shreveport, LA $84,445

Wilmington, NC $84,325

Roanoke, VA $84,325

Topeka, KS $84,160

Frankfort, KY $84,149

Oklahoma City, OK $84,086

Chillicothe, OH $84,049

Longview, TX $84,040

Melbourne, FL $84,031

Sioux Falls, SD $83,883

Mobile, AL $83,874

Terre Haute, IN $83,837

Altoona, PA $83,782

Amarillo, TX $83,718

Killeen, TX $83,690

Fayetteville, AR $83,616

Chattanooga, TN $83,589

Sioux City, IA $83,506

Idaho Falls, ID $83,488

Lynchburg, VA $83,414

Gainesville, FL $83,294

Portsmouth, OH $83,248

Little Rock, AR $83,230

Lafayette, LA $83,193

Youngstown, OH $83,193

Daytona Beach, FL $83,138

Clarksville, TN $83,129

Pensacola, FL $83,119

Temple, TX $83,113

Hopkinsville, KY $82,843

Erie, PA $82,825

Florence, SC $82,788

Charleston, WV $82,641

Great Falls, MT $82,595

Macon, GA $82,466

Tallahassee, FL $82,457

Fayetteville, NC $82,438

Waco, TX $82,420

Helena, MT $82,355

Pine Bluff, AR $82,320

Vincennes, IN $82,208

Lubbock, TX $82,171

Alamogordo, NM $82,116

Twin Falls, ID $82,033

Rapid City, SD $82,006

Jackson, MS $81,840

Huntington, WV $81,834

Greenville, MS $81,831

Parkersburg, WV $81,737

Montgomery, AL $81,720

Wichita Falls, TX $81,628

Springfield, MO $81,628

Biloxi, MS $81,582

Monroe, LA $81,490

Johnstown, PA $81,426

Sumter, SC $81,389

Columbus, GA $81,380

Pascagoula, MS $81,205

Abilene, TX $81,205

Kingsport, TN $80,966

Albany, GA $80,966

Gulfport, MS $80,938

Alexandria, LA $80,634

Fort Smith, AR $80,404

El Paso, TX $80,155

Las Cruces, NM $79,741

Harlingen, TX $79,507

Pocatello, ID $79,493

Florence, AL $79,373

Brownsville, TX $79,355

Mcallen, TX $79,161

Dothan, AL $79,032

Columbus, MS $78,486

Altus, OK $78,057

Lawton, OK $77,882

Pierre, SD $77,551

Water Quality Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Water Quality Engineer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Water Quality Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Water Quality Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Water Quality Engineer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Insurance	$110,458	$53.0	20%

Water Quality Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Water Quality 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.

$83,464

Average $92,048/year

$100,983

$6,955

Average $7,671/month

$8,415

$1,605

Average $1,770/week

$1,942

$40

Average $44/hour

$49

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,983	$8,415	$1,942	$49
Average	$92,048	$7,671	$1,770	$44
25th Percentile	$83,464	$6,955	$1,605	$40

Salary Trends for Water Quality Engineer

Salaries for a Water Quality Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $83,179 in 2023 to around $83,236 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Water Quality Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Water Quality Engineer Over Time

$???
$83,179
$83,984
$83,236
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$83,179
2024	$83,984
2025	$83,236
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Water Quality Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Water Quality Engineer

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

N $97,099/per year

New York Police Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $95,962/per year

State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $94,615/per year

US Department of Transportation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $93,141/per year

US General Services Administration Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $92,342/per year

Los Angeles County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

D $92,011/per year

Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,967/per year

US Department of Commerce Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,755/per year

US Department of Energy Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

F $91,673/per year

Federal Bureau of Investigation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $90,276/per year

Naval Sea Systems Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,975/per year

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $88,721/per year

San Diego County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,664/per year

The TTB Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $87,569/per year

Lutheran Services Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

M $85,066/per year

Maryland Inc Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $83,780/per year

State University of New York Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $82,969/per year

New York State Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

P $82,703/per year

Puerto Rico Department of Education Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $80,526/per year

US Central Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

H $80,286/per year

Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $79,270/per year

Air Force Reserve Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $78,505/per year

American Automobile Association (AAA) Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $76,678/per year

State of Florida - Department of Health Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $75,183/per year

New York State Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $75,106/per year

State University System of Florida Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

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FAQ about Water Quality Engineer

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

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Water Quality Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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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Water Quality Engineer Salary in the United States

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

Key Factors That Influence Water Quality Engineer Salaries

How Do Water Quality Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Water Quality Engineers

Water Quality Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a Water Quality Engineer

Water Quality Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for Water Quality Engineer

Average Annual Salary of Water Quality Engineer Over Time

Most common benefits for Water Quality Engineer

Common company salaries for Water Quality Engineer

Find Your Next Water Quality Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Water Quality Engineer

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

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Water Quality Engineer Salary in the United States

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

Key Factors That Influence Water Quality Engineer Salaries

How Do Water Quality Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Water Quality Engineers

Water Quality Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a Water Quality Engineer

Water Quality Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of Jobs related to Water Quality Engineer

Salary Trends for Water Quality Engineer

Average Annual Salary of Water Quality Engineer Over Time

Most common benefits for Water Quality Engineer

Common company salaries for Water Quality Engineer

Find Your Next Water Quality Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Water Quality Engineer

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

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?