Environmental Engineer salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Environmental Engineers in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn a median of $129,780 a year ($62.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,430 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $130,410. There are 0.49 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $121,700, close to the median.
Pay range for environmental engineers in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,850 | $35.50 |
| 25th percentile | $84,240 | $40.50 |
| Median | $129,780 | $62.39 |
| 75th percentile | $153,560 | $73.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,430 | $79.05 |
| Average (mean) | $121,700 | $58.51 |
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 | $10,815 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,407.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,991.54 |
| Weekly | $2,495.77 |
| Hourly | $62.39 |
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 |
| 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 |
See Environmental Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $110,210 | $52.99 |
| Engineers, All Other | $97,210 | $46.73 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,270 | $49.17 |
| Industrial Engineer | $100,380 | $48.26 |
| Electrical Engineer | $136,240 | $65.50 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $104,570 | $50.27 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,490 | $65.14 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $84,120 | $40.44 |
| Landscape Architect | $77,570 | $37.29 |
| Surveyor | $107,700 | $51.78 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $81,980 | $39.41 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $101,270 | $48.69 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $129,780 a year, or $62.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn at least $164,430 a year. The top 25% earn $153,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,850 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $84,240 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
About 60 environmental engineers are employed in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.