Environmental Engineers Salary
In Tennessee, environmental engineers earn $97,190 at the median, or about $46.73 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $108,254 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Tennessee?
About environmental engineers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Environmental engineers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $107K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 19% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level environmental engineers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineers salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $103K | +6% | 180 |
| Memphis | $100K | +3% | 40 |
| Chattanooga | $88K | -9% | 50 |
| Knoxville | $87K | -11% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 19% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for environmental engineers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,758/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $107K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for environmental engineers?
Tennessee pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $107K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental engineers make in Tennessee?
The median is $97,190 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,630, and experienced environmental engineers can clear $142,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,397/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 19% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $108,254 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.