Environmental Engineering graduates earn $81,171 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.1%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Engineering Teachers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Environmental Engineering is a focused area of study within Engineering. Graduates typically earn around $81,171 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. The program is available at 168 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 3,012 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$64,608
Median Earnings · 4yr
$81,171
Colleges Offering
168
Graduates / Year
3,012
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,600
How Much Do Environmental Engineering Graduates Earn?
Environmental Engineering graduates earn $81,171 four years out, well above average for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $68,911 and $95,232.
$64,608
1 Year After Graduation
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$81,171
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$81,659
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Environmental Engineering graduates. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$68,91125th pct.
$81,171Median
$95,23275th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $81,171 against an estimated $70,400 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 131 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 3,012 students who complete Environmental Engineering programs each year, the majority (64%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
64%28%
Bachelor's64%
Master's28%
Doctorate6%
What Can You Do With an Environmental Engineering Degree?
Environmental Engineering connects to 4 occupations in the job market. Architectural & Engineering Manager leads at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Critical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.
Investigate industrial accidents, injuries, or occupational diseases to determine causes and preventive measures.
Conduct research to evaluate safety levels for products.
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Active ListeningWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
Top Colleges for Environmental Engineering
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Environmental Engineering students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Environmental Engineering graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Programs
Environmental Engineering is one of 38 specializations within Engineering. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Environmental Engineering program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Environmental Engineering a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $81,171 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.1% over the next decade, with Engineering Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 23,100 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $95,232, a strong ceiling for high performers.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
How much do Environmental Engineering graduates earn?
Environmental Engineering graduates earn a national median of $81,171 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $68,911 and $95,232. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Environmental Engineering degree?
One year after graduation, Environmental Engineering degree holders earn a median of $64,608. That climbs to $81,171 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Environmental Engineering degree?
Environmental Engineering degree holders pursue careers including Architectural & Engineering Manager, which pays a median of $171,270/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Environmental Engineering program take?
A Environmental Engineering bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Environmental Engineering?
168 colleges and universities in the United States offer Environmental Engineering programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Environmental Engineering degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $81,171 and an average net price of roughly $17,600/yr, a Environmental Engineering degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Environmental Engineering and Engineering?
Environmental Engineering is a focused concentration within the broader Engineering field. The Engineering major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Environmental Engineering-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Environmental Engineering graduates?
Employers hiring Environmental Engineering graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Environmental Engineering graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Environmental Engineering graduates?
The job outlook for Environmental Engineering graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +5.1% job growth over the next 10 years. Engineering Teachers is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.1%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Engineering Programs
Other programs in Engineering. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
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