Environmental Engineers
SOC Code: 17-2081 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
Advertisement
Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Environmental Engineers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $97,198 | $121,493 | $145,808 | $170,102 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,171 | $121,680 | $142,210 | $162,718 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,518 | $106,662 | $133,827 | $160,971 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,656 | $109,970 | $135,262 | $160,576 |
| Modesto, CA | $94,848 | $116,147 | $137,426 | $158,725 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $91,915 | $113,963 | $136,011 | $158,059 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $78,021 | $104,686 | $131,352 | $158,018 |
| Springfield, MA | $73,050 | $101,213 | $129,376 | $157,539 |
| Vallejo, CA | $96,283 | $115,918 | $135,554 | $155,189 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $90,106 | $111,758 | $133,411 | $155,064 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | 62 | $108,203 |
| CAROLLO ENGINEERS, INC. | 45 | $95,060 |
| Arcadis U.S., Inc. | 42 | $97,951 |
| WSP USA Inc. | 33 | $98,277 |
| Stantec Consulting Services Inc. | 26 | $107,164 |
| THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | 22 | $65,163 |
| Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. | 19 | $110,945 |
| Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. | 19 | $103,504 |
| CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD | 19 | $105,727 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | 18 | $87,796 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 73 | $86,585 |
| 2021 | 101 | $83,369 |
| 2022 | 90 | $103,199 |
| 2023 | 245 | $95,704 |
| 2024 | 335 | $880,237 |
| 2025 | 429 | $1,445,820 |
| 2026 | 70 | $102,101 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 5.0 |
| Design | 4.6 |
| Chemistry | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 4.0 |
| Building and Construction | 3.9 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Physics | 3.8 |
| Biology | 3.6 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 61.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.6% |
| Associate's degree | 4.8% |
| Master's degree | 4.8% |
Typical Tasks
- Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
- Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
- Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
- Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
- Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
- Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties.
- Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
- Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Bentley MicroStation C++ ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Word Python SAS The MathWorks MATLAB ANSYS simulation software
Calculate your wage level for Environmental Engineers →
Advertisement
Looking for an H-1B immigration attorney?
Find experienced immigration lawyers in our attorney directory.