Environmental Engineers Salary
In North Carolina, environmental engineers earn $99,440 at the median, or about $47.81 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $107,317 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in North Carolina?
About environmental engineers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Environmental engineers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $107K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 engineers (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineers salary by metro in North Carolina
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $108K | +9% | 90 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $103K | +4% | 110 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $83K | -17% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for environmental engineers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineers typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,140/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental engineer a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $107K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for environmental engineers?
North Carolina pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $107K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental engineers make in North Carolina?
The median is $99,440 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,000, and experienced environmental engineers can clear $143,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,156/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental engineers 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 engineers salary is worth about $107,317 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental engineers 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.