Environmental Engineer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Environmental Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $125,550 a year ($60.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,200 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $130,410. There are 0.16 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $130,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,400 | $46.35 |
| 25th percentile | $99,980 | $48.07 |
| Median | $125,550 | $60.36 |
| 75th percentile | $152,950 | $73.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,200 | $82.31 |
| Average (mean) | $130,260 | $62.63 |
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 | $10,462.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,231.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,828.85 |
| Weekly | $2,414.42 |
| Hourly | $60.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $125,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 |
| Salinas, CA | $126,670 | 30 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,860 | $100.89 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $194,370 | $93.45 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,030 | $80.79 |
| Engineers, All Other | $169,650 | $81.56 |
| Industrial Engineer | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,060 | $89.93 |
| Civil Engineer | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,630 | $87.32 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $136,450 | $65.60 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $143,050 | $68.77 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $90,660 | $43.59 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $129,640 | $62.33 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $125,550 a year, or $60.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $171,200 a year. The top 25% earn $152,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,400 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $99,980 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 180 environmental engineers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.