Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
In North Carolina, environmental engineering technologists and technicians earn $53,660 at the median, or about $25.8 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $57,911 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 35.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in North Carolina?
About environmental engineering technologists and technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level environmental engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in North Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $59K | +10% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for environmental engineering technologists and technicians in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,591/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for environmental engineering technologists and technicians?
North Carolina pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do environmental engineering technologists and technicians make in North Carolina?
The median is $53,660 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,190, and experienced environmental engineering technologists and technicians can clear $73,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,562/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 36% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $57,911 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental engineering technologists and technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.