How Much Does a Environmental Engineering Tech Make? (2024)
Specialty · SOC Code 17-3025 · 2-year apprenticeship
The average environmental engineering tech earns $63,192 per year ($30/hour) as of 2024, according to BLS data. Yearly income ranges from $40,430 to $98,110 depending on city, with entry-level workers earning about $72,140 and top earners making $130,670+.
Yes — top-decile environmental engineering techs clear $100K in 8 of 26 metros
The 90th-percentile environmental engineering tech in San Francisco, CA earns $130,670 per year ($63/hour). Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression plus union membership, specialization, or running a small contracting business. Median environmental engineering tech pay nationally is $63,192 — the $100K mark is the high-earner ceiling, not the middle.
National Salary Range
Environmental Engineering Tech salaries range from $40,430 to $98,110 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Environmental Engineering Tech Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $98,110 | $72,140 – $130,670 | $51,637 | C | 190 |
| Seattle, WA | $97,240 | $53,840 – $101,900 | $65,262 | C | 180 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $89,610 | $46,180 – $160,910 | $86,163 | B | 40 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,250 | $47,410 – $112,450 | $45,331 | D | 230 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $75,060 | $48,710 – $101,950 | $81,587 | B | 80 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $72,950 | $52,750 – $101,200 | $68,821 | C | 40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $72,500 | $50,640 – $95,090 | $70,388 | C | 210 |
| San Antonio, TX | $70,050 | $45,530 – $76,350 | $77,833 | C | 100 |
| Atlanta, GA | $65,470 | $35,670 – $86,230 | $61,764 | C | 650 |
| Columbus, OH | $63,050 | $43,670 – $81,150 | $67,796 | C | 240 |
| New York, NY | $62,100 | $51,640 – $79,430 | $33,209 | D | 840 |
| Nashville, TN | $60,740 | $38,110 – $101,760 | $58,971 | C | 140 |
| Denver, CO | $60,590 | $48,470 – $80,760 | $47,336 | C | 0 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $59,650 | $44,810 – $100,170 | $51,870 | C | 220 |
| St. Louis, MO | $58,890 | $50,240 – $59,790 | $65,433 | C | 0 |
| Dallas, TX | $57,450 | $38,150 – $72,940 | $56,324 | C | 110 |
| Houston, TX | $56,930 | $49,630 – $73,800 | $59,302 | C | 0 |
| Boston, MA | $56,100 | $38,750 – $83,440 | $36,908 | D | 150 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $55,950 | $38,370 – $87,930 | $53,798 | C | 40 |
| Charlotte, NC | $52,210 | $38,870 – $72,280 | $53,276 | C | 80 |
| Chicago, IL | $51,830 | $41,560 – $82,840 | $48,439 | C | 120 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $50,870 | $37,850 – $94,830 | $55,901 | C | 0 |
| Detroit, MI | $48,500 | $37,840 – $76,350 | $54,494 | C | 0 |
| Raleigh, NC | $48,370 | $46,210 – $71,590 | $48,370 | C | 0 |
| Miami, FL | $43,100 | $33,860 – $62,990 | $35,328 | D | 80 |
| Tampa, FL | $40,430 | $33,080 – $55,880 | $40,030 | D | 80 |
About Environmental Engineering Tech Pay
Environmental Engineering Techs earn a national median salary of $63,192 based on 2024 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $98,110 median, while Tampa offers the lowest at $40,430.
Becoming a environmental engineering tech typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $72,140, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $130,670 or more. With 5% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Thinking about becoming a environmental engineering tech?
Step-by-step path: 2-year apprenticeship, certifications, state licensing, and apprentice-to-master pay timeline.
Related Specialty Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The average environmental engineering tech salary is $63,192 per year ($30/hour) based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Average yearly income ranges from $40,430 to $98,110 depending on city, experience, and union status.
Environmental Engineering Techs earn an average hourly wage of $30/hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. Entry-level (10th percentile) hourly pay is about $35/hour, while top earners (90th percentile) make $63/hour or more.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for environmental engineering techs at $98,110. However, cost of living matters, the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of C and 5% wage growth over 5 years, environmental engineering tech offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 3,820 jobs nationwide across 26 metro areas.
Becoming a environmental engineering tech typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $72,140 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.
this entity is one of the data points covered by this site’s U.S. skilled-trade wage data dataset. The detail above comes directly from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey; the context that follows situates the headline numbers against the broader distribution across U.S. trades, cities, and states.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
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