Environmental Engineers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $155,930 or more. The middle half of environmental engineers in San Diego earn between $85,010 and $133,240.
- $82K10th
- $85K25th
- $119KMedian
- $133K75th
- $156K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $116,740 | $9,728 | $56.12 |
| Median | $119,390 | $9,949 | $57.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,010 | $7,084 | $40.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,240 | $11,103 | $64.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Engineers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Environmental engineers in San Diego earn 7% less than the California average ($125,870) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($112,910). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $107,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $116,740 | $119,390 | $81,880 | $155,930 | 540 |
| California | $125,870 | $130,410 | $79,790 | $170,790 | 4,550 |
| United States | $112,910 | $107,110 | $69,990 | $162,220 | 38,340 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Environmental Engineers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $116,740, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $84,192 a year, or $7,016 a month and $3,238 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for environmental engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $116,740 buys what about $104,337 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Engineers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 17th of 17 California metro areas for this job; Vallejo pays the most ($140,040).
- Vallejo$140,040
- Santa Rosa$138,740
- San Francisco$135,420
- Redding$134,930
- Sacramento$130,750
- San Jose$130,260
- Santa Cruz$126,480
- Stockton$124,800
- Los Angeles$124,760
- San Diego$116,740
Highest-paying cities for environmental engineers
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,100).
- Baton Rouge, LA$144,100
- Kennewick, WA$140,210
- Vallejo, CA$140,040
- Santa Rosa, CA$138,740
- Beaumont, TX$135,550
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Environmental Engineers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do environmental engineers make an hour in San Diego?
$56.13 an hour on average, and $57.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental engineers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental engineers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $84,192 a year ($7,016 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $116,740. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do environmental engineers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($112,910).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2081; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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