Environmental Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Environmental Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $107,950 a year ($51.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143,040 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 9% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $99,440. There are 0.26 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $112,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,640 | $36.85 |
| 25th percentile | $77,910 | $37.46 |
| Median | $107,950 | $51.90 |
| 75th percentile | $139,380 | $67.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143,040 | $68.77 |
| Average (mean) | $112,320 | $54.00 |
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 | $8,995.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,497.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,151.92 |
| Weekly | $2,075.96 |
| Hourly | $51.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Environmental Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $102,980 | 110 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $102,110 | 270 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,840 | 100 |
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 |
See Environmental Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| Civil Engineer | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $175,110 | $84.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $155,680 | $74.85 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,440 | $56.46 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $116,780 | $56.15 |
| Materials Engineer | $117,000 | $56.25 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $107,950 a year, or $51.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $143,040 a year. The top 25% earn $139,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,640 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $77,910 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 90 environmental engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.