Environmental Engineer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Environmental Engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $102,110 a year ($49.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,030 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 3% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $104,940. There are 0.36 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $107,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,820 | $32.12 |
| 25th percentile | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| Median | $102,110 | $49.09 |
| 75th percentile | $127,580 | $61.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| Average (mean) | $107,910 | $51.88 |
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 | $8,509.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,254.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,927.31 |
| Weekly | $1,963.65 |
| Hourly | $49.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $102,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $120,580 | 810 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $107,950 | 90 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $102,980 | 110 |
| Richmond, VA | $100,760 | 130 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,840 | 100 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,280 | $48.21 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,680 | $45.52 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,210 | $49.62 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $110,510 | $53.13 |
| Engineers, All Other | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $102,060 | $49.07 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $139,010 | $66.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $131,710 | $63.32 |
| Materials Engineer | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $97,870 | $47.06 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $96,870 | $46.57 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $57,760 | $27.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $102,110 a year, or $49.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $139,030 a year. The top 25% earn $127,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,820 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $89,920 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 270 environmental engineers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.