Salary guide
Environmental Engineering Technician Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What environmental engineering technicians earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median environmental engineering technician salary in the U.S. is $59,920 per year, or $28.81 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $39,910, while the top 10% earned more than $96,660.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Environmental Engineering Technician pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,910 | $19.19 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $48,200 | $23.17 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $59,920 | $28.81 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $75,960 | $36.52 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $96,660 | $46.47 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $48,200 | $59,920 | $75,960 |
| Per month | $4,017 | $4,993 | $6,330 |
| Every two weeks | $1,854 | $2,305 | $2,922 |
| Per week | $927 | $1,152 | $1,461 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects environmental engineering technician pay
- Required credentials (HAZWOPER, CSP, state inspector or operator licenses)
- Government versus private-sector employment
- Hazard level and emergency-response duties
- Industry (construction, energy, chemical and federal contracting)
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as an environmental engineering technician
- Get credentialed: OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER, 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher, Stormwater inspector certification.
- Build specialty experience: Run systems and projects.
- Move up: roles such as senior technician or project scientist and project manager or engineer typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Environmental Engineering Technician pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of environmental engineering technicians to change by +3.1% from 2025–35, about as fast as average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 17-3025 (“Environmental engineering technologists and technicians”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Environmental Engineering Technician salary FAQ
How much does an environmental engineering technician make per hour?
The median hourly wage for environmental engineering technicians was $28.81 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $19.19 and the top 10% earned about $46.47 or more.
How much does an environmental engineering technician make a month?
At the median annual wage of $59,920, that works out to about $4,993 per month before taxes, or about $2,305 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for an environmental engineering technician?
New environmental engineering technicians often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $39,910 and the 25th percentile was $48,200 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can environmental engineering technicians earn more?
Common ways include earning OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER and 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as senior technician or project scientist.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 17-3025 (Environmental engineering technologists and technicians).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Environmental engineering technologists and technicians (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.