Occupations · Architecture and Engineering

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 17-2081.00

$104,170median annual wage, May 2024

37,950people employed, United States

▲ 3.9%projected change, 2024→2034

3,000openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 66% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$105,040	1,610
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$119,780	1,270
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$130,830	1,200
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$116,980	1,170
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$107,550	1,050
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	$104,850	1,050
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$125,240	930
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$101,980	760
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$94,830	740
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$108,380	660
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$110,500	640
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$115,770	620

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.
Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Monitoring4.0

Critical Thinking4.0

Speaking4.0

Writing4.0

Active Listening4.0

Reading Comprehension4.0

Active Learning3.8

Science3.4

Mathematics3.4

Learning Strategies3.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Autodesk AutoCAD●Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D●Bentley MicroStation●C++●ESRI ArcGIS software●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft Word●Python●SAS●The MathWorks MATLAB●ANSYS simulation softwareAir dispersion modeling softwareBusiness software applicationsComputer aided design and drafting software CADDContinuous emission management softwareDHI Water and Environment MIKE SHEESRI ArcViewEcological risk assessment softwareEkoEnvironmental health and safety documentation softwareFinite element method FEM softwareFormula translation/translator FORTRANFugitive emission leak detection softwareGas dispersion model software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.1 below average

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−1.1 below average

Outdoors, Under Cover+1.0 above average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+0.9 above average

Telephone Conversations+0.8 above average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled+0.8 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2024-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree62%

Master's Degree29%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)5%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.5%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2024-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Investigative6.1

Realistic5.2

Conventional4.6

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Attend professional conferences to share information.

O*NET 28.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Judgment and Decision Making3.9

Complex Problem Solving3.9

Coordination3.8

Time Management3.2

Systems Evaluation3.2

Systems Analysis3.2

Instructing3.0

Negotiation3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Engineering and TechnologyDesignChemistryMathematicsBuilding and ConstructionEnglish Language

Abilities it leans on

Inductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityWritten ExpressionOral Comprehension

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

EngineerSoil EngineerCivil EngineerCoastal EngineerEnvironmentalistProject EngineerSanitary EngineerReservoir EngineerIrrigation EngineerSanitation EngineerAir Quality EngineerSolid Waste EngineerEnvironmental AnalystEnvironmental Planner

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 8

+Geographic information system GIS systems+Computer aided design and drafting software CADD+LINDO Systems optimization modeling software+Eko+Simultaneous location and mapping SLAM+Business software applications+Hazardous materials management HMS software+ANSYS simulation software

No longer listed 29

−HEC-1−Google Chrome−NIWA Tideda−Web browser software−Bentley SewerCAD−KYPipe−ANSYS software−Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite−Bentley StormCAD−Microsoft Internet Explorer−Bentley WaterCAD−Eagle Point LANDCADD−Slam software−DHI MIKE URBAN

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

EngineerSoil EngineerWater EngineerCivil EngineerProject ManagerProject EngineerEnvironmentalistCoastal EngineerSanitary EngineerReservoir EngineerSanitation EngineerIrrigation Engineer

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
environmental engineer	2143.1	exact
environmental expert	2143.2	close
environmental scientist	2133.7	close
environmental geologist	2114.1.1	close
environmental protection manager	1349.13	close
pipeline environmental project manager	2133.10	close
environmental mining engineer	2143.1.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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