Environmental Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Environmental Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $120,580 a year ($57.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 810 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,040 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 15% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $104,940. There are 0.26 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $122,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,900 | $37.45 |
| 25th percentile | $96,290 | $46.29 |
| Median | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| 75th percentile | $142,500 | $68.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,040 | $82.71 |
| Average (mean) | $122,100 | $58.70 |
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 | $10,048.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,024.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,637.69 |
| Weekly | $2,318.85 |
| Hourly | $57.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $120,580 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $129,390 | 1,040 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $102,110 | 270 |
| Richmond, VA | $100,760 | 130 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $97,570 | 680 |
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $120,580 a year, or $57.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $172,040 a year. The top 25% earn $142,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,900 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $96,290 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 810 environmental engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.