Environmental Engineer salary in Salinas, CA
Environmental Engineers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $126,670 a year ($60.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $196,890 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $130,410. There are 0.17 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $122,350, close to the median.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,030 | $29.34 |
| 25th percentile | $84,850 | $40.79 |
| Median | $126,670 | $60.90 |
| 75th percentile | $152,950 | $73.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $196,890 | $94.66 |
| Average (mean) | $122,350 | $58.82 |
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 | $10,555.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,277.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,871.92 |
| Weekly | $2,435.96 |
| Hourly | $60.90 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Environmental Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,160 | $58.73 |
| Engineers, All Other | $98,950 | $47.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,560 | $63.73 |
| Industrial Engineer | $95,100 | $45.72 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,460 | $60.80 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,470 | $31.96 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,600 | $47.89 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $81,230 | $39.06 |
| Landscape Architect | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Surveyor | $101,120 | $48.62 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Salinas, CA metro area is $126,670 a year, or $60.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $196,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $196,890 a year. The top 25% earn $152,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,030 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $84,850 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Salinas, CA?
About 30 environmental engineers are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.