Environmental Engineers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-2081 · O*NET 17-2081.00
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.
Environmental Engineers fall under the Architecture and Engineering category in the U.S. occupational classification. Environmental Engineers earn a median salary of $104,170 per year, ranking in the top 10% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about environmental engineers right now
If your teen loves science and cares about clean water, air quality, and fixing pollution, environmental engineering pairs that purpose with real earning power and a clear professional path. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental engineers earned a median wage of $104,170 in May 2024, with the lowest tenth earning about $64,950 and the top tenth clearing $161,910. Projected job growth is roughly 3.9 percent, close to the average across all occupations, and demand tends to follow environmental regulation and infrastructure investment, so the work stays steady. The 2025 and beyond story is that artificial intelligence is reshaping how this work gets done. The global market for AI in environmental sustainability was estimated at about $16.55 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow at roughly a 19.8 percent annual rate through 2033, reaching an estimated $84 billion, as machine learning is applied to satellite imagery, IoT sensor networks, and atmospheric data for real-time pollution detection and remediation modeling. That shift is now official: NCEES added a Sustainability content area to the 2026 PE Environmental exam. Here is what matters most for parents. This is a licensed career, so the path is structured. Your teen should aim for a bachelor's degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, then pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam near graduation, then complete about four years of supervised work under a licensed engineer, and finally pass the PE Environmental exam to practice independently and stamp official documents. In high school, the strongest preparation is a heavy load of math through calculus, plus chemistry, physics, and biology, because environmental work draws on all of them. Encourage strong writing too, since engineers explain findings to regulators and the public. A programming or data class helps given the AI trend, and any environmental club, science fair project, or local water or air quality volunteering will confirm genuine interest before the college commitment.
What do environmental engineers earn?
The median annual wage for environmental engineers is $104,170. That puts environmental engineers at #83 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $64,950 |
| 25th percentile | $80,510 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $104,170 |
| 75th percentile | $130,830 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,910 |
| Median hourly wage | $50.08/hr |
Is environmental engineers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for environmental engineers is +3.9%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 39K positions in 2024 to 41K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do environmental engineers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working environmental engineers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
- 2.Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
- 3.Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
- 4.Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
- 5.Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
- 6.Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
- 7.Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
- 8.Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
Top skills for environmental engineers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become environmental engineer?
The standard path into environmental engineers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
How to become environmental engineer: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 8 years (4-year ABET degree plus ~4 years supervised experience before PE licensure). Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
ABET-accredited Bachelor's degree
~4 yearsFoundational four-year engineering degree. State boards generally require the ABET-accredited degree; ABET accredits programs, NCEES sets exam standards, and state boards hold legal licensing authority.
- •Earn a Bachelor of Science from an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program (environmental, civil, or closely related)
- •A non-accredited engineering or science degree is sometimes accepted but extends the later experience requirement
- •Complete coursework in math through calculus, chemistry, physics, and core engineering fundamentals
- 2
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
~0.5 yearsThe first licensure step, typically taken near graduation or shortly after. Passing confers Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI) status.
- •No work experience required to sit for the exam
- •Register and pay the ~$175-$225 fee directly to NCEES
- •Sit for the computer-based exam year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam - 3
Progressive supervised work experience
~4 yearsMandatory supervised-experience gate. Most states require roughly four years of progressive engineering work under a licensed Professional Engineer before the candidate may sit for the PE exam.
- •Accumulate about 4 years of acceptable, progressive, verifiable engineering experience
- •Work under the supervision of a licensed PE
- •Maintain an Experience Record (ER) endorsed by references
- •A non-ABET-accredited degree typically raises the requirement to about 8 years
- 4
Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam - Environmental
~0.5 yearsThe discipline-specific licensing exam. Passing, plus board approval and a background check, yields the PE license, which legally authorizes independent practice, sealing and stamping engineering documents, and supervisory authority.
- •Complete the supervised-experience requirement (some states pre-approve candidates before the exam, others do not)
- •Register and pay the ~$375-$400 fee to NCEES
- •Pass a background check and obtain state board approval to receive the PE license
PE Environmental exam (computer-based, 80 questions, 9-hour session; 2026 spec effective April 1, 2026 covers Water, Solid & Hazardous Waste, Sustainability, Air Quality, Site Assessment & Remediation, and Environmental & Occupational Health) - 5
Licensure maintenance and optional advanced credentials
Optional~1 yearOngoing upkeep of the PE license through continuing education, plus an optional advanced credential (BCEE) for experienced professionals seeking specialty recognition.
- •Complete continuing education (professional development hours) for periodic license renewal, with state-by-state variation
- •Optionally pursue Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) recognition via AAEES for experienced PEs
Licensing requirements for environmental engineers
Environmental Engineers are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about environmental engineers
What is the median salary for environmental engineers?
The median annual salary for environmental engineers is $104,170 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is environmental engineers a growing career?
BLS projects +3.9% growth for environmental engineers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become environmental engineer?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to environmental engineers?
Related occupations within the Architecture and Engineering category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.