SOC 17-2081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Engineers — North Carolina
North Carolina · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Environmental Engineers in North Carolina is $99,440 per year, close to the national median of $107,110 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Environmental Engineers in North Carolina is $99,440 per year, close to the national median of $107,110 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $69,000 at the tenth percentile to more than $143,040 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $76,640 to $127,040.
Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, North Carolina ranks 30th by median wage. Durham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $107,950. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 104th of 745 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $69,000 | −35.6% |
| 25th | $76,640 | −28.4% |
| Median (50th) | $99,440 | −7.2% |
| 75th | $127,040 | +18.6% |
| 90th | $143,040 | +33.5% |
| Mean | $104,970 | −2.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $99,440 goes as far as $105,451 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$105,451US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,440 a year, 7.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $69,000 to $143,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 30th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $107,950.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Engineers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $99,440, or $47.81 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $107,110, so pay in North Carolina is 7.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in North Carolina earns more than $143,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $69,000 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Durham, at $107,950 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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