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Best states for an environmental engineer/scientist
Quoted expert
Murray Borrello
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and architecture and engineering careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to environmental engineer/scientist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for environmental engineers/scientist.Our research shows that Virginia is the best state in the country for environmental engineers/scientist.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for environmental engineers/scientist.We found that the Midwest is best for environmental engineers/scientist, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for environmental engineer/scientist jobs, where as Virginia is the best state in the country.
10 best states for environmental engineers/scientist in 2025
1. Virginia
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 1,830 Average annual salary: $82,531 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.93
2. Oregon
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 507 Average annual salary: $87,824 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
3. Pennsylvania
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 1,306 Average annual salary: $82,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
4. Idaho
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $80,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. California
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 2,236 Average annual salary: $102,352 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
6. District of Columbia
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $85,292 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
7. Connecticut
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 432 Average annual salary: $75,386 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
8. Maryland
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 1,243 Average annual salary: $75,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.95
9. North Carolina
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 1,177 Average annual salary: $71,725 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
10. West Virginia
Total environmental engineer/scientist jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $84,370 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Environmental engineer/scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an environmental engineer/scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an environmental engineer/scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $82,531 | $46,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,830 |
| 2 | Oregon | $87,824 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 507 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $82,735 | $47,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,306 |
| 4 | Idaho | $80,989 | $51,000 | 1,716,943 | 162 |
| 5 | California | $102,352 | $62,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,236 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $85,292 | $49,000 | 693,972 | 182 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $75,386 | $43,000 | 3,588,184 | 432 |
| 8 | Maryland | $75,454 | $43,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,243 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $71,725 | $40,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,177 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $84,370 | $49,000 | 1,815,857 | 117 |
| 11 | Colorado | $79,386 | $50,000 | 5,607,154 | 633 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $72,280 | $44,000 | 2,088,070 | 232 |
| 13 | Nevada | $79,422 | $48,000 | 2,998,039 | 173 |
| 14 | Washington | $79,980 | $51,000 | 7,405,743 | 670 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $69,771 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 69 |
| 16 | Arizona | $74,781 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 502 |
| 17 | Alaska | $70,623 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 114 |
| 18 | Delaware | $67,912 | $39,000 | 961,939 | 194 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $68,043 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,243 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $70,002 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 617 |
| 21 | Texas | $68,263 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,889 |
| 22 | Michigan | $69,756 | $41,000 | 9,962,311 | 627 |
| 23 | Montana | $66,284 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 122 |
| 24 | Illinois | $66,104 | $41,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,265 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $63,189 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 214 |
| 26 | New York | $65,436 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,925 |
| 27 | Utah | $64,221 | $40,000 | 3,101,833 | 331 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $65,732 | $40,000 | 3,930,864 | 145 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $57,412 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 123 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $60,999 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 135 |
| 31 | Indiana | $60,926 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 537 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $65,132 | $36,000 | 4,684,333 | 196 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $54,722 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 144 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $58,306 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 586 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $54,320 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 104 |
| 36 | Ohio | $57,808 | $34,000 | 11,658,609 | 888 |
| 37 | Kansas | $59,097 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 240 |
| 38 | Maine | $52,394 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 184 |
| 39 | Iowa | $58,788 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 279 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $60,520 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 96 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $55,898 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 207 |
| 42 | Vermont | $51,252 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 97 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $61,253 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 569 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $57,653 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 205 |
| 45 | Alabama | $54,850 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 290 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $55,091 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 398 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $48,669 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 365 |
| 48 | Missouri | $45,580 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 534 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $51,017 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 171 |
| 50 | Georgia | $48,531 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 798 |
| 51 | Florida | $38,860 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,390 |
Highest paying states for environmental engineers/scientist
| Rank | State | Avg. Environmental Engineer/Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $82,531 |
| 2 | Oregon | $87,824 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $82,735 |
| 4 | Idaho | $80,989 |
| 5 | California | $102,352 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $85,292 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $75,386 |
| 8 | Maryland | $75,454 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $71,725 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $84,370 |
| 11 | Colorado | $79,386 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $72,280 |
| 13 | Nevada | $79,422 |
| 14 | Washington | $79,980 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $69,771 |
| 16 | Arizona | $74,781 |
| 17 | Alaska | $70,623 |
| 18 | Delaware | $67,912 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $68,043 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $70,002 |
| 21 | Texas | $68,263 |
| 22 | Michigan | $69,756 |
| 23 | Montana | $66,284 |
| 24 | Illinois | $66,104 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $63,189 |
| 26 | New York | $65,436 |
| 27 | Utah | $64,221 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $65,732 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $57,412 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $60,999 |
| 31 | Indiana | $60,926 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $65,132 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $54,722 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $58,306 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $54,320 |
| 36 | Ohio | $57,808 |
| 37 | Kansas | $59,097 |
| 38 | Maine | $52,394 |
| 39 | Iowa | $58,788 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $60,520 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $55,898 |
| 42 | Vermont | $51,252 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $61,253 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $57,653 |
| 45 | Alabama | $54,850 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $55,091 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $48,669 |
| 48 | Missouri | $45,580 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $51,017 |
| 50 | Georgia | $48,531 |
| 51 | Florida | $38,860 |
Expert opinions on the best states for environmental engineers/scientist
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for environmental engineer/scientists to find work opportunities?
Murray Borrello
Director and Chair, Alma College
I would say that this question may be asked, "are there any good places in the U.S. or good areas in the job market..." First, let's look at places...I am finding that students who are looking in areas that are "high-quality living" regions, like in the Rocky Mountains (Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs) or coastal areas such as Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, San Francisco - there are jobs, but there is also a lot of competition for those jobs. Where openings occur changes quite a bit, depending on population migration and the area that the work entails. For example, if you are interested in water resources (finding water, water quality issues), the Plains States and Southwest U.S. is where you are likely to find work. Actually, larger communities anywhere along the Colorado or Rio Grande River systems are pretty good bets. But in general, the kind of work will determine where you find employment. My advice to students ready to graduate is this:
Make a list of areas you want to work in. The list should be divided into three tiers - where you absolutely would love to live, where you wouldn't mind living, and an area or region where the job dictates where you live. Remember, most "first" jobs are not long-term commitments. Employees move around a lot now.
But, for those graduates who are looking for work in 2021 - 2023, I would say that environmental health is going to be the area with the most positions. Anything that can be tied with the Coronavirus, tracking infections, general statistics, and epidemiology - these skill sets and knowledge will be hugely beneficial in getting employment. Even those students who are finishing up their senior year, it might be wise to explore environmental health classes or public health classes.
Environmental engineer/scientist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025