Environmental Engineer salary in Virginia
Environmental Engineers in Virginia earn a median of $104,940 a year ($50.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,990 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $107,110. Virginia ranks 22nd of 50 states for environmental engineers pay. There are 0.25 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $111,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,520 | $31.50 |
| 25th percentile | $83,010 | $39.91 |
| Median | $104,940 | $50.45 |
| 75th percentile | $131,700 | $63.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,990 | $75.96 |
| Average (mean) | $111,800 | $53.75 |
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 | $8,745 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,372.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,036.15 |
| Weekly | $2,018.08 |
| Hourly | $50.45 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $120,580 | 810 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $102,110 | 270 |
| Richmond, VA | $100,760 | 130 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,180 | $50.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,030 | $57.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,550 | $49.30 |
| Engineers, All Other | $148,160 | $71.23 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,990 | $57.69 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,210 | $68.85 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| Chemical Engineer | $136,380 | $65.57 |
| Materials Engineer | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $104,960 | $50.46 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,890 | $61.97 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for environmental engineers in Virginia is $104,940 a year, or $50.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in Virginia earn at least $157,990 a year. The top 25% earn $131,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,520 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $83,010 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Virginia?
About 1,010 environmental engineers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.