How to hire an environmental engineer/scientist

How to hire an environmental engineer/scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step environmental engineer/scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an environmental engineer/scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new environmental engineer/scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an environmental engineer/scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your environmental engineer/scientist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an environmental engineer/scientist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An environmental engineer/scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, environmental engineers/scientist from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents environmental engineer/scientist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Environmental Engineer/Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Environmental Engineer/Scientist	Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.	$23-58
   Engineering Project Coordinator	An engineering project coordinator works with project managers and specialists to ensure that all aspects of the project are carried out and cared for. They make sure that work is done according to schedule, the staff is doing their job per timeframe, the budget is allocated for, and expenditures are accounted for... Show more	$25-48
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • Environmental Engineering
   • Oversight
   • EPA
   • Groundwater
   • Air Quality
   • Data Analysis
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Site Assessments
   • GIS
   • Environmental Regulations
   • Data Collection
   • Regulatory Agencies
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Perform safety and health monitoring and oversight on all projects.
   • Present audit results to site level director and EHS senior managers.
   • Conduct personnel oversight and supervision.
   • Initiate a thorough EHS auditing and corrective action program and establish a comprehensive industrial hygiene monitoring program at each facility.
   • Assist in development of work plans and provide assistance to EPA for subsequent remediation of contaminate sites and abandon industrial facilities.

   More environmental engineer/scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your environmental engineer/scientist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An environmental engineer/scientist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, environmental engineers/scientist' average salary in florida is 62% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level environmental engineers/scientist 60% less than senior-level environmental engineers/scientist.
   • Certifications. An environmental engineer/scientist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an environmental engineer/scientist's salary.

   Average environmental engineer/scientist salary

   $78,194yearly

   $37.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level environmental engineer/scientist salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average environmental engineer/scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$109,529	$53
   2	Oregon	$86,730	$42
   3	District of Columbia	$85,254	$41
   4	Pennsylvania	$83,650	$40
   5	Virginia	$81,760	$39
   6	Washington	$80,927	$39
   7	Colorado	$79,014	$38
   8	North Carolina	$76,099	$37
   9	Connecticut	$74,311	$36
   10	Alaska	$70,443	$34
   11	Minnesota	$70,062	$34
   12	Michigan	$70,035	$34
   13	New Jersey	$68,642	$33
   14	Texas	$68,533	$33
   15	Illinois	$66,559	$32
   16	New York	$66,020	$32
   17	Louisiana	$64,974	$31
   18	Utah	$63,688	$31
   19	New Hampshire	$61,572	$30
   20	Massachusetts	$60,815	$29

   Average environmental engineer/scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Vertex	$106,684	$51.29	8
   2	Boeing	$95,003	$45.67	14
   3	ERG	$92,064	$44.26	11
   4	Fluor Corporation	$85,867	$41.28	2
   5	Pegasus	$85,724	$41.21
   6	Woods Services	$85,437	$41.08
   7	Amec Foster Wheeler	$83,593	$40.19
   8	Sanborn, Head & Associates	$78,560	$37.77
   9	Civil & Environmental Consultants	$77,542	$37.28	13
   10	Fuss & O'Neill	$77,512	$37.27	1
   11	Environmental Quality Management	$77,110	$37.07
   12	Exponent	$77,009	$37.02	40
   13	Fishbeck	$76,906	$36.97
   14	ERM	$75,548	$36.32	70
   15	Arcadis	$73,804	$35.48	29
   16	RTI International Metals	$72,525	$34.87
   17	Woodard & Curran	$72,472	$34.84
   18	Langan	$71,944	$34.59	52
   19	Weston & Sampson	$71,771	$34.51	1
   20	Tetra Tech	$71,568	$34.41	39

4. Writing an environmental engineer/scientist job description

   An environmental engineer/scientist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an environmental engineer/scientist job description:

   Environmental engineer/scientist job description example

   The person in this position will undertake diverse and challenging work focused on providing air permitting and compliance support primarily to fast-paced industrial clients. Project work may include determining regulatory applicability, preparing compliance plans and reports, developing air permitting applications, and performing technical and economic feasibility studies for pollution-control equipment. Other work duties may involve the development of proposals, scopes of work, and budgets; participation in meetings and negotiations with clients and regulatory agency personnel; internal team coordination and staff mentoring; quality control review of draft deliverables; and overall project management.
   Minimum Qualifications:
   Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, or environmental engineering or a related scientific degree 5 or more years of professional experience with state and federal air programs Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with clients, project team members, and regulators Demonstrated ability to fulfill commitments on schedule and within budget and to provide professional services that exceed client expectations and requirements Strong technical and problem-solving skills, including attention to detail, accuracy, and completeness, as well as a commitment to producing high-quality deliverables Demonstrated effectiveness in building working relationships and leading and working with multidisciplinary teams Intrinsic motivation with an emphasis on client service and cultivating a career in environmental consulting Willingness to travel and periodically and adjust the schedule to meet project needs Acceptable driving record Legal authorization to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   8 years of experience working with federal air regulations such as PSD/NSR and CAA Title V Experience with developing air permit applications and supporting materials and in working with regulators to provide post-application support and permit condition negotiations assistance Experience working with Michigan air regulations Experience conducting best available control technology (BACT) or similar economic evaluations Aptitude for developing client relationships and new business
   
   A hybrid work arrangement may be considered for this position. A hybrid work arrangement refers to splitting time worked between a Barr office and a home office. This position is/can be based out of Barr's Minneapolis, MN; Ann Arbor, MI; Bismarck, ND; Denver, CO; Duluth, MN; Grand Rapids, MI; Hibbing, MN; Jefferson City, MO; Salt Lake City, UT office (s) .
   
   Colorado Applicants Only:
   
   Compensation:
   
   The anticipated base salary range for this position is $75,000-$100,000/year. Compensation will vary based upon experience, education, skill level, and other compensable factors. Employees in this position may also be eligible for a discretionary cash bonus. Our compensation comes in more ways than traditional base salary, and we believe that when all those elements are combined, our compensation is a competitive part of the total value proposition of working at Barr.
   
   Benefits:
   
   People report that they stay at Barr because of the camaraderie and career opportunities. Another draw is our competitive package of employee benefits, which includes professional development funding, 401(k) retirement savings plan, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) participation, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, disability and accidental death insurance, flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses, paid holidays, paid time off, and compensatory time for exempt/salaried staff (time off or pay for extra time worked).
   
   #LI-Hybrid

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find environmental engineers/scientist for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any environmental engineers/scientist they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level environmental engineers/scientist with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your environmental engineer/scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit environmental engineer/scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit environmental engineers/scientist, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new environmental engineer/scientist

   Once you've found the environmental engineer/scientist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an environmental engineer/scientist?