Yes, environmental engineering is a good career for people who want solid pay, steady demand and work with a visible public benefit. The median environmental engineer earned $107,110 in May 2025, according to BLS data, and employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than average. It is a smaller field than civil or mechanical engineering, and many jobs sit in consulting firms and government agencies, so a PE license and strong writing skills matter more than in many other disciplines.
Key takeaways
- Environmental engineers earned a median of $107,110 in May 2025; the top 10 percent earned more than $162,220.
- BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 2,300 openings a year.
- Engineering services, state government and consulting firms employ about 6 in 10 environmental engineers.
- A PE license carries real weight here because so much of the work involves permits, reports and public projects.
- Water and air quality work is expected to drive demand, according to BLS.
What does an environmental engineer do day to day?
Environmental engineers use engineering to solve problems like water treatment, air pollution, contaminated sites and waste management. According to the BLS, typical duties include designing systems to reclaim water or control air pollution, obtaining and maintaining permits, supporting cleanup projects, analyzing scientific data, inspecting industrial and municipal facilities for compliance and advising companies and agencies on environmental issues.
A typical week mixes desk work and field work. You might spend two days writing a remediation report, a day in meetings with a regulator or client, and a day on site overseeing sampling or a treatment system startup. Consulting engineers also track budgets and hours, while government engineers focus more on permit reviews, inspections and enforcement.
O*NET lists job titles such as air pollution control engineer, environmental consultant, environmental remediation specialist, hazardous substances engineer and sanitary engineer, which shows how broad the field is.
| Specialty | What the work looks like |
|---|---|
| Water and wastewater | Designing treatment plants, pump stations and stormwater systems for cities and industry |
| Remediation | Investigating contaminated soil and groundwater and designing cleanup systems |
| Air quality | Air permits, emissions testing, modeling and pollution control equipment |
| Environmental compliance | Helping plants meet permit limits, reporting, audits and training |
| Solid and hazardous waste | Landfill design, waste characterization and disposal planning |
How much do environmental engineers make?
The BLS reports a May 2025 median wage of $107,110 for environmental engineers. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $69,990, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $162,220. That is close to the $108,620 median for all engineers.
| Industry | Median annual wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Federal government | $124,760 |
| Engineering services | $109,040 |
| Local government | $104,140 |
| State government | $102,160 |
| Management, scientific and technical consulting services | $101,840 |
Energy and chemical industries pay more but employ far fewer environmental engineers. In the most recent detailed OEWS profile (May 2023), environmental engineers in chemical manufacturing averaged $141,520 and those in oil and gas extraction averaged $139,830. By state, Texas had the highest average pay at $122,980. See how this compares with other disciplines in our list of the highest paid engineering jobs.
Is environmental engineering a good career for the future?
The outlook is steady. BLS projects employment to grow from about 39,100 jobs in 2025 to 41,600 in 2035, a 6 percent increase that is faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations but a bit below the 8 percent projected for engineers overall. About 2,300 openings are expected each year, mostly from retirements and people changing careers.
BLS ties demand to public awareness of environmental hazards, especially the need to improve water and air quality amid concerns about pollution and access to clean drinking water. Water infrastructure work in particular tends to be long term and publicly funded, which makes it less cyclical than many private sector engineering jobs.
The honest tradeoff is that some private sector work depends on regulation and enforcement priorities, which can shift. Engineers with water and wastewater design skills, which cities need year after year, usually have the most stable demand.
Where do environmental engineers work?
By industry, BLS says the largest employers in 2025 were engineering services (24 percent), state government (20 percent), management, scientific and technical consulting (19 percent), local government (7 percent) and the federal government (6 percent).
By state, the latest detailed OEWS profile (May 2023) shows California with the most environmental engineers at 5,910, followed by New York, Texas, Ohio and Illinois. Alaska, West Virginia, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado had the highest concentration relative to their workforce, and the Sacramento metro area had one of the highest concentrations of any large metro.
Some environmental engineers also work on energy projects, including permitting and site studies for solar, wind and battery storage. If that interests you, our renewable energy recruiters page shows the kinds of roles in that space.
Recruiter tip: If you are early in your career, ask interviewers how much of the role is field work versus report writing. Consulting roles often start heavy on field sampling and oversight, which is great experience but not for everyone. Knowing the split up front helps you pick the job you will actually stay in.
What degree and license do environmental engineers need?
Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field such as civil, chemical or general engineering. BLS notes that employers prefer accredited programs and value internships and cooperative education. A graduate degree is more common here than in some fields: in O*NET survey data, 29 percent of respondents said a master’s degree is required.
Licensure is not required at the entry level, but the PE license matters a lot in consulting and public work because it lets you sign off on projects. The NCEES PE Environmental exam has 80 questions, is offered year round and costs $400, and the first time pass rate in the latest update was 73 percent. Our guide to PE vs EIT vs no license explains how hiring managers weigh each stage.
BLS also notes that some states require OSHA HAZWOPER certification for environmental engineers working around hazardous waste, and that licensed engineers can pursue board certification in a specialty.
What skills and software do employers look for?
O*NET lists software including ESRI ArcGIS, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, MODFLOW for groundwater modeling, MATLAB and Python, along with compliance and hazardous materials management tools.
- Technical writing: reports, permit applications and work plans are a big part of the job.
- Regulatory knowledge: familiarity with federal and state rules for water, air and waste.
- GIS and CAD: ArcGIS and Civil 3D show up in many postings for site and water work.
- Modeling and data: groundwater, air dispersion or hydraulic models and the data skills to back them.
- Field skills: sampling, oversight and safety training such as HAZWOPER.
- Client and public communication: BLS stresses explaining findings to nontechnical audiences.
Is environmental engineering hard?
The degree covers chemistry, biology, fluid mechanics and hydrology on top of core engineering math, so it is demanding but often seen as a bit less math heavy than electrical or aerospace. The bigger challenge on the job is juggling technical work, regulations, budgets and people.
Hours vary by employer. O*NET survey data shows 62 percent of environmental engineers report working more than 40 hours in a typical week, and 30 percent work outdoors in all weather at least once a week. Government roles tend to have more predictable schedules than consulting.
What are the pros and cons of environmental engineering?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Median pay of $107,110 in May 2025 | Smaller field than civil or mechanical engineering |
| Faster than average projected growth | Growth is slower than for engineers overall |
| Stable public sector and water infrastructure jobs | Some private work depends on changing regulations |
| Work with clear public and environmental benefits | Heavy report writing and paperwork |
| Mix of office and field work | Field work can mean bad weather and hazardous sites |
Who is environmental engineering a good fit for?
It suits people who care about public health and the environment, enjoy chemistry and biology as much as math, and are comfortable writing. If you like the idea of water systems and infrastructure, also read whether civil engineering is a good career, since the two fields overlap heavily. If you prefer designing equipment such as pollution control systems, compare with whether mechanical engineering is a good career.
How do you break into environmental engineering?
- Get an internship with a consulting firm, water utility or state environmental agency.
- Take the FE exam before or soon after graduation so you can start your path to a PE.
- Get HAZWOPER training if you want remediation or site work.
- Build a writing sample, such as a lab or design report, that shows you can write clearly.
- Apply to state and local government roles as well as consulting firms. Government jobs made up about a third of environmental engineering employment in 2025.
Recruiter tip: Put your FE status, any HAZWOPER training and your GIS or CAD tools near the top of your resume. Environmental hiring managers screen for those quickly, and listing them clearly can move you past the first cut.
Frequently asked questions
Is environmental engineering worth it in 2026?
For most people who enjoy the work, yes. The May 2025 median of $107,110 and 6 percent projected growth make it a solid, stable engineering career, especially in water and public sector roles.
Is environmental engineering the same as environmental science?
No. Environmental engineers design systems and solutions and can earn a PE license, while environmental scientists focus more on research, sampling and analysis. The two often work side by side on the same projects.
Can I become an environmental engineer with a civil engineering degree?
Yes. BLS lists civil, chemical and general engineering as related degrees, and many environmental engineers start in civil programs with a water or environmental focus.
Do environmental engineers travel a lot?
Some do. Consulting engineers often travel to project sites, client facilities and regulator meetings, while government engineers may travel for inspections. Travel usually drops as you move into senior design and management roles.
Do environmental engineers work in renewable energy?
Some do, especially on permitting, site assessment and environmental compliance for energy projects. Most environmental engineering jobs, though, remain in consulting and government work on water, air and waste.
Looking for your next environmental engineering role, or hiring for one? Apollo Technical’s engineering staffing agency team recruits environmental, civil and water engineers for consulting firms and industry. Job seekers can also browse our open engineering jobs.
