Best cities for an environmental engineer
The best cities for environmental engineers are El Paso, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, and New Orleans, LA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for environmental engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for environmental engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an environmental engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for environmental engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for environmental engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an environmental engineer. While the absolute best city for environmental engineers is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for environmental engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for an environmental engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for environmental engineers in 2026
1. El Paso, TX
Total environmental engineer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $86,732 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 4.06 2. Corpus Christi, TX
Total environmental engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $88,811 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 3.94 3. New Orleans, LA
Total environmental engineer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $88,542 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 3.22 4. Houston, TX
Total environmental engineer jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $87,836 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 2.91 5. Reno, NV
Total environmental engineer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $77,979 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 3.07 6. Fort Worth, TX
Total environmental engineer jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $84,209 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 1.71 7. Oakland, CA
Total environmental engineer jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $90,433 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 6.18 8. Anchorage, AK
Total environmental engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $85,250 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 2.28 9. Sacramento, CA
Total environmental engineer jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $89,780 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 3.45 10. Dallas, TX
Total environmental engineer jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $84,083 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 1.28
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Best cities for environmental engineers
- El Paso, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- New Orleans, LA
- Houston, TX
- Reno, NV
- Fort Worth, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Sacramento, CA
- Dallas, TX
- (18 environmental engineer jobs)
- (7 environmental engineer jobs)
- (23 environmental engineer jobs)
- (254 environmental engineer jobs)
- (18 environmental engineer jobs)
- (22 environmental engineer jobs)
- (46 environmental engineer jobs)
- (9 environmental engineer jobs)
- (56 environmental engineer jobs)
- (61 environmental engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an environmental engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $86,732 | $65,000 | 683,080 | 18 |
| 2 | Corpus Christi, TX | $88,811 | $70,000 | 325,733 | 7 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $88,542 | $68,000 | 391,495 | 23 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $87,836 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 254 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $77,979 | $55,000 | 245,255 | 18 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $84,209 | $62,000 | 854,113 | 22 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $90,433 | $66,000 | 420,005 | 46 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $85,250 | $72,000 | 298,192 | 9 |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $89,780 | $65,000 | 495,234 | 56 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $84,083 | $62,000 | 1,317,929 | 61 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,555 | $56,000 | 1,615,017 | 80 |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $86,083 | $65,000 | 470,130 | 27 |
| 13 | Santa Ana, CA | $85,995 | $65,000 | 334,217 | 15 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,196 | $52,000 | 559,277 | 29 |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $88,053 | $64,000 | 522,053 | 11 |
| 16 | North Las Vegas, NV | $75,225 | $54,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $87,633 | $67,000 | 947,890 | 48 |
| 18 | Mesa, AZ | $75,592 | $56,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $76,371 | $58,000 | 530,706 | 10 |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $85,971 | $65,000 | 266,122 | 37 |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | $74,202 | $56,000 | 452,602 | 17 |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $85,815 | $64,000 | 324,722 | 8 |
| 23 | Oklahoma City, OK | $72,209 | $52,000 | 638,367 | 14 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $66,608 | $50,000 | 458,880 | 29 |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,389 | $56,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 26 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,386 | $55,000 | 632,912 | 12 |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $85,999 | $64,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $88,208 | $68,000 | 1,492,510 | 8 |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,214 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 29 |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $70,315 | $55,000 | 453,579 | 36 |
| 31 | San Diego, CA | $86,171 | $65,000 | 1,406,630 | 46 |
| 32 | Tampa, FL | $69,936 | $54,000 | 377,165 | 42 |
| 33 | Memphis, TN | $64,978 | $47,000 | 652,717 | 15 |
| 34 | Glendale, AZ | $75,611 | $56,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 35 | San Francisco, CA | $90,583 | $66,000 | 870,887 | 51 |
| 36 | Laredo, TX | $88,960 | $70,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 37 | Arlington, TX | $84,243 | $62,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 38 | Orlando, FL | $69,586 | $54,000 | 277,173 | 24 |
| 39 | Irving, TX | $83,972 | $62,000 | 238,289 | 2 |
| 40 | Wichita, KS | $59,603 | $42,000 | 389,902 | 15 |
| 41 | San Jose, CA | $89,920 | $66,000 | 1,025,350 | 31 |
| 42 | Garland, TX | $83,790 | $62,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 43 | Plano, TX | $83,578 | $62,000 | 286,057 | 3 |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $83,746 | $62,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 45 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $79,021 | $67,000 | 351,792 | 19 |
| 46 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $70,024 | $55,000 | 260,999 | 5 |
| 47 | Portland, OR | $73,098 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 24 |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $64,515 | $47,000 | 660,388 | 15 |
| 49 | Cincinnati, OH | $57,342 | $41,000 | 298,800 | 26 |
| 50 | Baltimore, MD | $75,606 | $56,000 | 614,664 | 28 |
Highest paying cities for environmental engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. environmental engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $90,583 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $88,542 |
| 3 | Pasadena, TX | $87,873 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $85,437 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $75,606 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,555 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $73,098 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $72,975 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,196 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $70,315 |
| 11 | Edison, NJ | $69,442 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $69,175 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $68,530 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,214 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $66,608 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $66,489 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $63,360 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $62,417 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $59,554 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $58,338 |
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Updated January 8, 2025