Environmental Engineer salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Environmental Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $128,410 a year ($61.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,610 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 2% higher than the Washington statewide median of $125,460. There are 0.50 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,920 | $37.94 |
| 25th percentile | $101,700 | $48.89 |
| Median | $128,410 | $61.74 |
| 75th percentile | $162,880 | $78.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,610 | $84.43 |
| Average (mean) | $129,200 | $62.12 |
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 | $10,700.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,350.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,938.85 |
| Weekly | $2,469.42 |
| Hourly | $61.74 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $140,060 | 390 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $127,080 | 500 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $121,230 | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $108,240 | 190 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $108,180 | 50 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $116,480 | $56.00 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,580 | $78.64 |
| Electrical Engineer | $140,210 | $67.41 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,210 | $63.08 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Engineers, All Other | $137,430 | $66.07 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,120 | $81.31 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $138,890 | $66.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,130 | $75.06 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $161,050 | $77.43 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $129,820 | $62.42 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $134,800 | $64.81 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $128,410 a year, or $61.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $175,610 a year. The top 25% earn $162,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,920 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $101,700 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 1,050 environmental engineers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.