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Wastewater engineer salary
Average wastewater engineer salary
$84,524
Understanding Wastewater Engineer Salaries
The role of a wastewater engineer is vital in maintaining sustainable water systems. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $84,524 per year. Factors influencing this salary include experience level, geographic location, and specific industry sectors. For instance, entry-level positions may start around $63,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $105,000.
Salary by State
Different states offer varying salaries for wastewater engineers. For example, states like California and New York typically provide higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Texas and Florida also present competitive compensation options.
Opportunities for Advancement
Career advancement in this field can lead to specialized roles such as project managers or consultants, which often come with increased salaries. Continual education and certifications can further enhance earning potential. Understanding these dynamics is essential for aspiring engineers looking to maximize their career growth.
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Where can a Wastewater Engineer earn more?
Wastewater engineer salaries by experience level
Wastewater engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average wastewater engineer salary by state
The average wastewater engineer salary in Oregon, Washington, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average wastewater engineer salary states are Indiana, Alabama, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for wastewater engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $110,156 | $52.96 |
| 2 | Washington | $106,532 | $51.22 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $108,943 | $52.38 |
| 4 | California | $105,439 | $50.69 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $103,773 | $49.89 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $98,129 | $47.18 |
| 7 | Maine | $105,667 | $50.80 |
| 8 | Delaware | $92,780 | $44.61 |
| 9 | Idaho | $98,518 | $47.36 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $99,941 | $48.05 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $96,406 | $46.35 |
| 12 | Virginia | $92,363 | $44.41 |
| 13 | Nevada | $95,590 | $45.96 |
| 14 | Maryland | $93,476 | $44.94 |
| 15 | Vermont | $93,876 | $45.13 |
| 16 | Michigan | $92,132 | $44.29 |
| 17 | New York | $93,682 | $45.04 |
| 18 | Arizona | $90,166 | $43.35 |
| 19 | Texas | $89,263 | $42.91 |
| 20 | Alaska | $91,928 | $44.20 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $94,510 | $45.44 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $92,116 | $44.29 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $91,919 | $44.19 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $88,959 | $42.77 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $89,922 | $43.23 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $88,485 | $42.54 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $86,137 | $41.41 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $79,553 | $38.25 |
| 29 | Colorado | $78,831 | $37.90 |
| 30 | Florida | $80,285 | $38.60 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $77,695 | $37.35 |
| 32 | Georgia | $80,529 | $38.72 |
| 33 | Illinois | $81,248 | $39.06 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $78,784 | $37.88 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $82,789 | $39.80 |
| 36 | Iowa | $77,691 | $37.35 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $80,762 | $38.83 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $73,683 | $35.42 |
| 39 | Utah | $72,833 | $35.02 |
| 40 | Ohio | $74,068 | $35.61 |
| 41 | Indiana | $71,157 | $34.21 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $65,863 | $31.66 |
| 43 | Montana | $74,964 | $36.04 |
| 44 | Alabama | $67,217 | $32.32 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $72,678 | $34.94 |
| 46 | Kansas | $74,790 | $35.96 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $72,690 | $34.95 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $60,525 | $29.10 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $66,798 | $32.11 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $71,687 | $34.46 |
| 51 | Missouri | $62,735 | $30.16 |
Highest paying cities for wastewater engineers
The highest-paying cities for wastewater engineers are Redding, CA, Seattle, WA, and Reading, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redding, CA | $107,844 | $51.85 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $107,610 | $51.74 |
| 3 | Reading, MA | $97,545 | $46.90 |
| 4 | Piscataway, NJ | $94,587 | $45.47 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $93,837 | $45.11 |
| 6 | Southfield, MI | $92,595 | $44.52 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $89,049 | $42.81 |
| 8 | Sarasota, FL | $81,904 | $39.38 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $81,729 | $39.29 |
| 10 | Stockbridge, GA | $80,424 | $38.67 |
| 11 | Dubuque, IA | $79,986 | $38.45 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $78,728 | $37.85 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $77,847 | $37.43 |
| 14 | Appleton, WI | $75,347 | $36.22 |
| 15 | Duluth, MN | $74,435 | $35.79 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $72,144 | $34.68 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $70,603 | $33.94 |
Wastewater engineer salary details
A wastewater engineer's salary ranges from $51,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a wastewater engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| Average | $84,524 | $7,044 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
Highest paying wastewater engineer jobs
The highest paying types of wastewater engineers are director water and waste services, senior engineer, and staff engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Staff Engineer | $107,530 | $8,961 | $51.70 | 277,011 |
| Water Resources Engineer | $80,432 | $6,703 | $38.67 | 38,911 |
| Wastewater Project Engineer | $76,181 | $6,348 | $36.63 | 23,130 |
| Water Engineer | $98,752 | $8,229 | $47.48 | 8,851 |
| Water/Wastewater Engineer | $85,682 | $7,140 | $41.19 | 7,052 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for wastewater engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring wastewater engineers now:
Which companies pay wastewater engineers the most?
Wastewater engineer salaries at Oxford Solutions and Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average wastewater engineer salary at companies like GPAC and Carollo Engineers are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxford Solutions | $99,739 | $47.95 |
| 2 | Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County | $93,319 | $44.86 |
| 3 | GPAC | $92,502 | $44.47 |
| 4 | Carollo Engineers | $91,266 | $43.88 |
| 5 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $89,302 | $42.93 |
| 6 | URS E&C Holdings Inc | $87,474 | $42.05 |
| 7 | LVI Holding Corporation | $87,474 | $42.05 |
| 8 | Jacobs Enterprises | $87,465 | $42.05 |
| 9 | City of Sand Springs | $86,543 | $41.61 |
| 10 | Iowa State Association of Counties | $85,873 | $41.29 |
| 11 | First Solar | $85,162 | $40.94 |
| 12 | HDR | $84,663 | $40.70 |
| 13 | Stantec | $83,842 | $40.31 |
| 14 | Hazen and Sawyer | $83,225 | $40.01 |
| 15 | Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | $82,804 | $39.81 |
| 16 | Gannett Fleming | $82,536 | $39.68 |
| 17 | MSA Professional Services | $81,785 | $39.32 |
| 18 | Civil & Environmental Consultants | $81,472 | $39.17 |
| 19 | Cp&y, Inc. | $80,991 | $38.94 |
| 20 | Weston & Sampson | $79,961 | $38.44 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Wastewater engineer salary trends
The average wastewater engineer salary has risen by $11,993 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average wastewater engineer earned $72,531 annually, but today, they earn $84,524 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for wastewater engineers over the last decade.
Compare wastewater engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average wastewater engineer salary over time
Compare wastewater engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Wastewater engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $84,500 | $40.64 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $81,500 | $39.20 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | $80,400 | $38.65 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $79,600 | $38.29 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $77,900 | $37.45 | +0.4% |
Recently added wastewater engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gannett Fleming | Senior Wastewater Engineer | Baltimore, MD | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Trilon Group | Senior Wastewater Engineer | Hartford, CT | 06/27/2025 | $100,000 |
| TRC Companies, Inc. | Wastewater Engineer | Greenville, NC | 06/19/2025 | $75,000 |
| Arcadis | Staff Wastewater Engineer | Buffalo, NY | 06/19/2025 | $80,000 |
| Actalent | Wastewater Engineer | Richfield, UT | 06/18/2025 | $100,000 |
| Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies of America | Reliability/Wastewater Engineer-Valent Biosciences, LLC | Osage, IA | 06/16/2025 | $81,200 |
| Associated Engineering | Senior Wastewater Engineer | Denver, CO | 06/14/2025 | $135,000 |
| Associated Engineering | Senior Wastewater Engineer | Seattle, WA | 06/14/2025 | $135,000 |
| Associated Engineering | Senior Wastewater Engineer | Portland, OR | 06/14/2025 | $135,000 |
| Carollo Engineers | Senior Wastewater Reuse Engineer | San Diego, CA | 06/10/2025 | $150,000 |
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