Environmental Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Environmental Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $119,390 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,395 take-home, or $7,033 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median environmental engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,436
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,402
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,731
- California income tax$6,874
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,552
- Take-home pay$84,395
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Environmental Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,880 | $39.37 | $61,983 | $5,165 |
| 25th percentile | $85,010 | $40.87 | $63,853 | $5,321 |
| Median (50th) | $119,390 | $57.40 | $84,395 | $7,033 |
| 75th percentile | $133,240 | $64.06 | $92,442 | $7,703 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,930 | $74.97 | $105,545 | $8,795 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $119,390 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median environmental engineer's $84,395 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,429 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.4× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $119,390 | $84,395 | $75,429 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
Environmental Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $133,240
- San Francisco, CA — $138,840
- Los Angeles, CA — $127,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a environmental engineer make in San Diego, CA?
The median environmental engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $119,390 a year, or about $57.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,010 and $133,240.
What is a environmental engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $119,390 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $84,395 a year ($7,033 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,426 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a environmental engineer?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $107,110. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,429 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #12 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a environmental engineer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median environmental engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $174,440
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Aerospace Engineer — $135,010
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Electrical Engineer — $127,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $121,750
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $120,040
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Civil Engineer — $108,900
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $92,480
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $91,620
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,840