Environmental Engineers Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, environmental engineers earn $120,290 at the median, or about $57.83 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $110,561 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month — about 44% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $120K get you in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Maria-Santa Barbara’s Regional Price Parity (108.8). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About environmental engineers
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level environmental engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $120K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $130K | +25% | 740 |
| California | $128K | +23% | 4,770 |
| District of Columbia | $126K | +21% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $123K | +18% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $117K | +12% | 1,410 |
| Washington | $116K | +11% | 1,330 |
| Alaska | $114K | +9% | 240 |
| Nevada | $112K | +8% | 210 |
| Texas | $109K | +4% | 1,710 |
| Connecticut | $108K | +4% | 500 |
| Illinois | $108K | +3% | 1,410 |
| Rhode Island | $107K | +2% | 90 |
| Ohio | $106K | +2% | 970 |
| Hawaii | $105K | +1% | 260 |
| Minnesota | $105K | +1% | 980 |
| Kentucky | $105K | +1% | 370 |
| Wyoming | $105K | +0% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $104K | -0% | 690 |
| New Mexico | $104K | -0% | 480 |
| Virginia | $103K | -1% | 1,240 |
| Michigan | $100K | -4% | 880 |
| Alabama | $100K | -4% | 660 |
| West Virginia | $100K | -4% | 470 |
| Delaware | $100K | -4% | 130 |
| Utah | $99K | -5% | 430 |
| South Carolina | $99K | -5% | 490 |
| New Jersey | $99K | -5% | 1,010 |
| New York | $98K | -6% | 2,560 |
| Montana | $96K | -8% | 200 |
| Iowa | $96K | -8% | 220 |
| Indiana | $96K | -8% | 610 |
| Georgia | $95K | -9% | 750 |
| Pennsylvania | $95K | -9% | 1,420 |
| Maryland | $95K | -9% | 1,140 |
| Kansas | $94K | -10% | 400 |
| Arizona | $92K | -12% | 620 |
| South Dakota | $91K | -12% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $91K | -13% | 310 |
| Florida | $90K | -14% | 1,410 |
| Wisconsin | $89K | -14% | 760 |
| Tennessee | $88K | -16% | 840 |
| Oklahoma | $88K | -16% | 540 |
| North Dakota | $88K | -16% | 130 |
| Missouri | $87K | -16% | 360 |
| Vermont | $86K | -17% | 70 |
| Idaho | $85K | -18% | 400 |
| Maine | $85K | -18% | 220 |
| Arkansas | $85K | -19% | 260 |
| New Hampshire | $84K | -19% | 290 |
| Mississippi | $82K | -21% | 260 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track environmental engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do environmental engineers make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $120,290 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,150, and experienced environmental engineers can clear $160,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $120K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,137/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 43.8% 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 engineers salary go in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a Regional Price Parity of 108.8 (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 $110,561 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.