Environmental Engineers Salary
In Oregon, environmental engineers earn $127,100 at the median, or about $61.1 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $181K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $124,073 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in Oregon?
About environmental engineers
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What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for environmental engineers, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $107K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Oregon offers a genuinely strong financial position for environmental engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level environmental engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $181K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineers salary by metro in Oregon
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $127K | -0% | 500 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for environmental engineers in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,843/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Oregon?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $127K here vs. $107K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for environmental engineers?
Oregon pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $107K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental engineers make in Oregon?
The median is $127,100 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,720, and experienced environmental engineers can clear $181,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,253/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 21.4% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median environmental engineers salary is worth about $124,073 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.