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Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,280 | 1.8 % | $42.56 | $88,530 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $23.96 | $30.70 | $40.81 | $51.89 | $62.56 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $49,830 | $63,860 | $84,890 | $107,920 | $130,120 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 14,300 | 1.02 | $44.08 | $91,700 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 10,390 | 0.78 | $40.74 | $84,740 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 7,790 | 0.36 | $36.78 | $76,490 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 4,480 | 0.08 | $40.58 | $84,400 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 3,190 | 0.16 | $48.05 | $99,950 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 1,010 | 1.06 | $45.41 | $94,450 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 1,430 | 1.02 | $42.47 | $88,330 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 14,300 | 1.02 | $44.08 | $91,700 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 10,390 | 0.78 | $40.74 | $84,740 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | 280 | 0.57 | $44.07 | $91,670 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 60 | 0.01 | $54.80 | $113,990 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 190 | 0.12 | $53.42 | $111,110 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 160 | 0.17 | $52.60 | $109,410 |
| Legal Services | (8) | (8) | $51.87 | $107,880 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 80 | 0.07 | $51.58 | $107,290 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7,360 | 0.46 | 1.24 | $50.56 | $105,160 |
| New York | 3,300 | 0.36 | 0.97 | $42.88 | $89,190 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,250 | 0.56 | 1.52 | $40.00 | $83,200 |
| Texas | 2,910 | 0.25 | 0.67 | $42.37 | $88,130 |
| Massachusetts | 2,630 | 0.76 | 2.04 | $42.69 | $88,800 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 460 | 1.42 | 3.82 | $59.57 | $123,900 |
| Wyoming | 240 | 0.86 | 2.30 | $43.98 | $91,470 |
| Idaho | 530 | 0.80 | 2.14 | $42.88 | $89,180 |
| Massachusetts | 2,630 | 0.76 | 2.04 | $42.69 | $88,800 |
| Montana | 340 | 0.75 | 2.01 | $38.30 | $79,660 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 460 | 1.42 | 3.82 | $59.57 | $123,900 |
| California | 7,360 | 0.46 | 1.24 | $50.56 | $105,160 |
| District of Columbia | 310 | 0.44 | 1.19 | $47.37 | $98,530 |
| Ohio | 1,210 | 0.23 | 0.61 | $47.10 | $97,970 |
| Virginia | 1,200 | 0.32 | 0.86 | $47.00 | $97,770 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,830 | 0.28 | 0.75 | $46.14 | $95,960 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 1,780 | 0.99 | 2.66 | $44.78 | $93,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,400 | 0.33 | 0.89 | $52.55 | $109,290 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,290 | 0.50 | 1.35 | $32.95 | $68,530 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 1,260 | 0.89 | 2.40 | $46.53 | $96,790 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,100 | 0.97 | 2.59 | $42.84 | $89,110 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,080 | 1.19 | 3.19 | $49.95 | $103,900 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,010 | 0.93 | 2.50 | $56.26 | $117,020 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 990 | 0.40 | 1.06 | $50.03 | $104,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 970 | 0.27 | 0.72 | $38.81 | $80,730 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 260 | 4.17 | 11.19 | $46.13 | $95,940 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 220 | 3.07 | 8.23 | $28.64 | $59,570 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 310 | 2.91 | 7.83 | $53.22 | $110,690 |
| Carson City, NV | 50 | 1.79 | 4.80 | $32.29 | $67,160 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 60 | 1.71 | 4.58 | $46.57 | $96,860 |
| Anchorage, AK | 250 | 1.44 | 3.85 | $68.03 | $141,500 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 130 | 1.25 | 3.35 | $40.14 | $83,500 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 180 | 1.22 | 3.28 | $53.18 | $110,610 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,080 | 1.19 | 3.19 | $49.95 | $103,900 |
| Springfield, IL | 120 | 1.17 | 3.13 | $40.83 | $84,920 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 250 | 1.44 | 3.85 | $68.03 | $141,500 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 140 | 0.47 | 1.25 | $60.37 | $125,570 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 580 | 0.37 | 0.99 | $57.96 | $120,550 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,010 | 0.93 | 2.50 | $56.26 | $117,020 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 50 | 0.29 | 0.79 | $55.89 | $116,250 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 130 | 0.24 | 0.64 | $55.83 | $116,120 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | (8) | (8) | (8) | $53.60 | $111,480 |
| Redding, CA | 30 | 0.51 | 1.36 | $53.45 | $111,170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 310 | 2.91 | 7.83 | $53.22 | $110,690 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 180 | 1.22 | 3.28 | $53.18 | $110,610 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.64 | 4.39 | $37.88 | $78,800 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.48 | 3.97 | $52.25 | $108,690 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.43 | 1.15 | $32.77 | $68,150 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.49 | 1.33 | $31.09 | $64,670 |
| Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.45 | 1.21 | $31.29 | $65,090 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 2.25 | 6.04 | (8) | (8) |
| Central-Southeast Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.85 | 4.97 | $35.29 | $73,400 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.64 | 4.39 | $37.88 | $78,800 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.48 | 3.97 | $52.25 | $108,690 |
| Northeast Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.44 | 3.86 | $46.94 | $97,640 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.53 | 1.42 | $52.97 | $110,170 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.48 | 3.97 | $52.25 | $108,690 |
| Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $51.01 | $106,090 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.26 | 0.71 | $49.41 | $102,770 |
| Northeast Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.44 | 3.86 | $46.94 | $97,640 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017