Best cities for a water/wastewater engineer
The best cities for water/wastewater engineers are Portland, OR, Oakland, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for water/wastewater engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for water/wastewater engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a water/wastewater engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for water/wastewater engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for water/wastewater engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a water/wastewater engineer. While the absolute best city for water/wastewater engineers is Portland, OR, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for water/wastewater engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a water/wastewater engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for water/wastewater engineers in 2025
1. Portland, OR
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $110,621 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 2.23 2. Oakland, CA
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $115,683 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 2.48 3. Fresno, CA
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $113,364 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 5.08 4. El Paso, TX
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $92,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 3.32 5. Lubbock, TX
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $89,373 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 4.76 6. Corpus Christi, TX
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $88,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 4.15 7. Sacramento, CA
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $115,044 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 1.59 8. Reno, NV
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $97,033 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 1.26 9. Albuquerque, NM
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $91,044 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 1.77 10. Riverside, CA
Total water/wastewater engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $108,397 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 3.96
Best cities for water/wastewater engineers
- Portland, OR
- Oakland, CA
- Fresno, CA
- El Paso, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Reno, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Riverside, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a water/wastewater engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $110,621 | $77,000 | 639,863 | 16 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $115,683 | $78,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $113,364 | $77,000 | 522,053 | 6 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $92,647 | $63,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $89,373 | $61,000 | 252,506 | 3 |
| 6 | Corpus Christi, TX | $88,354 | $59,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $115,044 | $78,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $97,033 | $66,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $91,044 | $62,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 10 | Riverside, CA | $108,397 | $73,000 | 324,722 | 5 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $93,943 | $63,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $88,470 | $60,000 | 2,303,482 | 24 |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $111,311 | $75,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 14 | Mesa, AZ | $88,108 | $60,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $89,504 | $60,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $87,549 | $59,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $89,377 | $60,000 | 947,890 | 7 |
| 18 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,683 | $60,000 | 452,602 | 10 |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $87,457 | $59,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $99,693 | $69,000 | 704,352 | 12 |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $108,657 | $74,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 22 | New Orleans, LA | $103,557 | $70,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,305 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 24 | San Francisco, CA | $115,855 | $78,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $107,191 | $73,000 | 1,406,630 | 12 |
| 26 | North Las Vegas, NV | $93,832 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $87,149 | $59,000 | 1,317,929 | 9 |
| 28 | Henderson, NV | $93,669 | $63,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 29 | Fremont, CA | $115,388 | $78,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $108,303 | $73,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 31 | San Jose, CA | $115,193 | $78,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 32 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,850 | $58,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $114,935 | $78,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $87,563 | $61,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 35 | Norfolk, VA | $86,524 | $60,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 36 | Louisville, KY | $82,777 | $57,000 | 597,337 | 2 |
| 37 | Laredo, TX | $88,828 | $59,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 38 | Tulsa, OK | $82,640 | $57,000 | 403,090 | 2 |
| 39 | Denver, CO | $84,699 | $58,000 | 693,060 | 46 |
| 40 | Durham, NC | $79,573 | $55,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $88,127 | $60,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 42 | Los Angeles, CA | $109,099 | $74,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $87,367 | $59,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $83,190 | $58,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 45 | Santa Ana, CA | $108,440 | $73,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 46 | Irving, TX | $87,165 | $59,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $85,240 | $59,000 | 465,101 | 5 |
| 48 | Anaheim, CA | $108,578 | $74,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 49 | Garland, TX | $86,919 | $59,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | $77,248 | $53,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for water/wastewater engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. water/wastewater engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walnut Creek, CA | $115,554 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $110,621 |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | $103,892 |
| 4 | Coeur dAlene, ID | $103,840 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $99,693 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $91,044 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $89,377 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,305 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $87,572 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $87,396 |
| 11 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,683 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $84,699 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $82,640 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $82,511 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $80,845 |
| 16 | Cranberry, PA | $80,811 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $80,207 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $77,636 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $76,038 |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $69,172 |
Water/wastewater engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025