Environmental Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Environmental Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $128,410 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $99,034 take-home, or $8,253 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median environmental engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,552
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,961
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,862
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$99,034
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Environmental Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,920 | $37.94 | $64,350 | $5,363 |
| 25th percentile | $101,700 | $48.89 | $80,376 | $6,698 |
| Median (50th) | $128,410 | $61.74 | $99,034 | $8,253 |
| 75th percentile | $162,880 | $78.31 | $122,594 | $10,216 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,610 | $84.43 | $131,295 | $10,941 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,410 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median environmental engineer's $99,034 take-home pay has the buying power of $89,113 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 2.0× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
The median environmental engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $128,410 a year, or about $61.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,700 and $162,880.
What is a environmental engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $128,410 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $99,034 a year ($8,253 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a environmental engineer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $107,110. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $89,113 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a environmental engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median environmental engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $169,120
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,580
- Materials Engineer — $156,130
- Electrical Engineer — $140,210
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $138,890
- Engineers, All Other — $137,430
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,590
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician — $125,160
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- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $98,180