Environmental Engineers Salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
In Trenton-Princeton, NJ, environmental engineers earn $86,120 at the median — $41.4 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.18), that's roughly $83,466 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,950/month — about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $86K get you in Trenton-Princeton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Trenton-Princeton’s Regional Price Parity (103.18). 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
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Entry-level environmental engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $58K 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
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Frequently asked questions
How much do environmental engineers make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median is $86,120 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,950, and experienced environmental engineers can clear $122,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Trenton-Princeton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,468/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,950/month, which eats 35.7% 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 Trenton-Princeton?
Trenton-Princeton has a Regional Price Parity of 103.18 (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 $83,466 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.