Environmental Engineer salary in California
Environmental Engineers in California earn a median of $130,410 a year ($62.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,790 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $107,110. California ranks 2nd of 50 states for environmental engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.25 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $125,870, close to the median.
Pay range for environmental engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,790 | $38.36 |
| 25th percentile | $95,950 | $46.13 |
| Median | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| 75th percentile | $148,650 | $71.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,790 | $82.11 |
| Average (mean) | $125,870 | $60.52 |
Half of environmental engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,867.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,433.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,015.77 |
| Weekly | $2,507.88 |
| Hourly | $62.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Environmental Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $141,560 | 100 |
| Redding, CA | $140,570 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $138,840 | 550 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,700 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,640 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,240 | 1,200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $130,270 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $129,780 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,900 | 890 |
| Salinas, CA | $126,670 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $125,550 | 180 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $124,920 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $122,380 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,400 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $119,390 | 540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $118,860 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $117,360 | 260 |
Highest-paying states for environmental engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $130,510 |
| California | $130,410 |
| Oregon | $127,100 |
| Washington | $125,460 |
| Texas | $123,060 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 |
| Idaho | $117,520 |
| Florida | $116,840 |
| Massachusetts | $115,800 |
| Minnesota | $115,750 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a environmental engineer make in California?
The median salary for environmental engineers in California is $130,410 a year, or $62.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in California?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in California earn at least $170,790 a year. The top 25% earn $148,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,790 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $95,950 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in California?
About 4,550 environmental engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.