# Environmental Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2081.00
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $107,110 (10th percentile $69,990, 90th percentile $162,220)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.3%
- Openings a year: 2,300
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 70 |
| Investigative (I) | 85 |
| Artistic (A) | 16 |
| Social (S) | 20 |
| Enterprising (E) | 36 |
| Conventional (C) | 60 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 85/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 81/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 76/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1408) (CIP 1408, 326 colleges)
- [Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1414) (CIP 1414, 169 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Civil Engineering | $84,461 | $108,548 | $11,634 |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $108,466 | not reported |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $108,246 | not reported |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Civil Engineering | $81,387 | $106,308 | $18,817 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $105,594 | $21,500 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Civil Engineering | $79,750 | $105,199 | $21,000 |
| [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-marymount-university-1550) | Civil Engineering | $77,889 | $103,223 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $61,084 | $103,016 | $8,000 |

## Related careers

- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay
- [Water/Wastewater Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-wastewater-engineers): $100,840 median pay
- [Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $59,920 median pay
- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Environmental Compliance Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-compliance-inspectors): $80,730 median pay
- [Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-science-and-protection-technicians-including-health): $55,090 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.