SOC 17-2081.00Bright outlook

    Environmental Engineers

    Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines.

    Median pay
    $107,110
    Growth
    +6.3%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    2,300
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $69,990
    Median
    $107,110
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $162,220
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    38,340 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Environmental engineers research, design, and plan systems to prevent, control, and repair environmental hazards. This career offers a median annual pay of $107,110, with opportunities in waste treatment, pollution control, and site cleanup.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What environmental engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field focus on protecting the environment by managing waste treatment, pollution control, and site remediation. Day-to-day activities involve gathering information, working with computers, analyzing data, and monitoring surrounding environments. These engineers evaluate information to ensure compliance with standards, make critical decisions, and solve complex problems to address environmental hazards.

    Success in this role requires a strong foundation in engineering, technology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology. Workers utilize skills like critical thinking, active listening, and reading comprehension to design effective systems. Important work styles include attention to detail, cautiousness, dependability, and intellectual curiosity. This career heavily appeals to individuals with investigative interests who enjoy researching and solving technical challenges.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Most professionals prepare by majoring in civil engineering or environmental/environmental health engineering. Because this role requires considerable preparation, individuals usually need several years of related work experience alongside their degree to qualify for positions.

    While preparing for this career, individuals can pursue relevant professional certifications. Examples include the Fundamentals of Engineering - Environmental credential, the Environmental Professional In-Training certification, or the Certified Dangerous Goods Professional designation. Additionally, some states list specific licensing requirements for those performing this engineering work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these engineers is $107,110. Earnings range from less than $69,990 for the lowest 10% of workers to more than $162,220 for the highest 10% of earners.

    There are 38,340 people employed in this field. Between the years 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 6.3%, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 2,300 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    70 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    85 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    16 / 100
    Social (S)
    20 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    36 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    60 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    85
    Working with Computers
    85
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    83
    Analyzing Data or Information
    81
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    79
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    79
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    78
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    76
    Developing Objectives and Strategies
    74
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    74
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Active Learning
    • Coordination

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Design
    • Chemistry
    • Mathematics
    • Building and Construction
    • English Language
    • Physics
    • Biology
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Computers and Electronics

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Fluency of Ideas
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Innovation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Cooperation
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance

    Also called

    Air Pollution Control Engineer · Air Quality Engineer · Civil Engineer · Coastal Engineer · Engineer · Engineering Consultant · Environmental Analyst · Environmental Compliance Engineer · Environmental Consultant · Environmental Coordinator

    Career pathway

    From your interests to environmental engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Environmental Engineers$107,110 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,461
      4 yrs after
      $108,548
      Median debt
      $11,634
    2. 2
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $108,466
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Columbia University in the City of New York logo
      Columbia University in the City of New York

      New York, NY · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $108,246
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4University of Southern California USC logo
      University of Southern California USC

      Los Angeles, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $81,387
      4 yrs after
      $106,308
      Median debt
      $18,817
    5. 5Santa Clara University logo
      Santa Clara University

      Santa Clara, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $105,594
      Median debt
      $21,500
    6. 6Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $79,750
      4 yrs after
      $105,199
      Median debt
      $21,000
    7. 7Loyola Marymount University logo
      Loyola Marymount University

      Los Angeles, CA · Civil Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $77,889
      4 yrs after
      $103,223
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $61,084
      4 yrs after
      $103,016
      Median debt
      $8,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What environmental engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
    • Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
    • Water Resources Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    52 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about environmental engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for environmental engineers?

    People in this field are also called air pollution control engineers, air quality engineers, coastal engineers, and environmental compliance engineers. Other common titles include environmental consultant, environmental analyst, and environmental coordinator.

    What college majors are recommended for this career?

    Students interested in this path typically major in civil engineering or environmental/environmental health engineering. These programs provide the necessary knowledge in design, mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

    What certifications are available for professionals in this field?

    Available certifications include the Fundamentals of Engineering - Environmental credential and the Environmental Professional In-Training designation. Another option is the Certified Dangerous Goods Professional certification.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.