Environmental Engineer salary in Illinois
Environmental Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $107,990 a year ($51.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 940 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,150 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $107,110. Illinois ranks 16th of 50 states for environmental engineers pay. There are 0.15 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $116,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| 25th percentile | $87,090 | $41.87 |
| Median | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| 75th percentile | $123,960 | $59.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,150 | $73.63 |
| Average (mean) | $116,020 | $55.78 |
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 | $8,999.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,499.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,153.46 |
| Weekly | $2,076.73 |
| Hourly | $51.92 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $110,700 | 660 |
| Springfield, IL | $103,190 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $94,980 | 230 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $100,540 | $48.34 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,680 | $49.37 |
| Electrical Engineer | $107,860 | $51.85 |
| Engineers, All Other | $111,930 | $53.81 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,220 | $64.05 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,390 | $62.21 |
| Chemical Engineer | $121,560 | $58.44 |
| Materials Engineer | $126,620 | $60.87 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $89,520 | $43.04 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $108,940 | $52.38 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,690 | $51.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for environmental engineers in Illinois is $107,990 a year, or $51.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in Illinois earn at least $153,150 a year. The top 25% earn $123,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,990 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $87,090 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Illinois?
About 940 environmental engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.