Environmental Engineer salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Environmental Engineers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $102,980 a year ($49.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,210 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $99,440. 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 $107,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| 25th percentile | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Median | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| 75th percentile | $128,980 | $62.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,210 | $73.66 |
| Average (mean) | $107,750 | $51.81 |
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 | $8,581.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,290.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,960.77 |
| Weekly | $1,980.38 |
| Hourly | $49.51 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $107,950 | 90 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $101,440 | $48.77 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,000 | $48.08 |
| Industrial Engineer | $104,030 | $50.01 |
| Electrical Engineer | $130,240 | $62.62 |
| Engineers, All Other | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,800 | $78.27 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $98,630 | $47.42 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,050 | $55.31 |
| Chemical Engineer | $111,210 | $53.47 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $130,300 | $62.65 |
| Materials Engineer | $104,310 | $50.15 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $60,720 | $29.19 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $102,980 a year, or $49.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $153,210 a year. The top 25% earn $128,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,600 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $74,750 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 110 environmental engineers are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.