Environmental Engineer Salary in Portland, OR
Environmental Engineers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $127,080 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $87,835 take-home, or $7,320 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median environmental engineer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,233
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,843
- Oregon income tax$10,290
- Take-home pay$87,835
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Environmental Engineer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,640 | $38.29 | $58,718 | $4,893 |
| 25th percentile | $98,310 | $47.26 | $70,219 | $5,852 |
| Median (50th) | $127,080 | $61.10 | $87,835 | $7,320 |
| 75th percentile | $140,630 | $67.61 | $95,765 | $7,980 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,040 | $79.35 | $110,032 | $9,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $127,080 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median environmental engineer's $87,835 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,319 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR has 1.7× the national concentration of environmental engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for environmental engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #5 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $127,340 | $98,303 | $99,669 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $129,390 | $95,732 | $93,348 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $128,410 | $99,034 | $89,113 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $133,240 | $92,442 | $86,661 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $127,080 | $87,835 | $83,319 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $138,840 | $95,676 | $82,755 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $115,750 | $83,913 | $80,052 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $120,580 | $86,377 | $79,330 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a environmental engineer make in Portland, OR?
The median environmental engineer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $127,080 a year, or about $61.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,310 and $140,630.
What is a environmental engineer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $127,080 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $87,835 a year ($7,320 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,290 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a environmental engineer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $107,110. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,319 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #5 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a environmental engineer afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median environmental engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Industrial Engineer — $129,890
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,330
- Electrical Engineer — $128,080
- Engineers, All Other — $126,380
- Civil Engineer — $106,280
- Mechanical Engineer — $105,020
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,490
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $84,930
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $79,350
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $77,990
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $75,870
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $75,560