Environmental Engineers pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $196,890 or more. The middle half of environmental engineers in Salinas earn between $84,850 and $152,950.
- $61K10th
- $85K25th
- $127KMedian
- $153K75th
- $197K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,350 | $10,196 | $58.82 |
| Median | $126,670 | $10,556 | $60.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,850 | $7,071 | $40.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $152,950 | $12,746 | $73.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Engineers pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Environmental engineers in Salinas earn about the same as the California average ($125,870) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($112,910). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $107,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $122,350 | $126,670 | $61,030 | $196,890 | 30 |
| California | $125,870 | $130,410 | $79,790 | $170,790 | 4,550 |
| United States | $112,910 | $107,110 | $69,990 | $162,220 | 38,340 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Environmental Engineers salary after taxes in Salinas
On the average salary of $122,350, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $87,606 a year, or $7,300 a month and $3,369 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Salinas a good place for environmental engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $122,350 buys what about $112,204 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Engineers salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 10th of 17 California metro areas for this job; Vallejo pays the most ($140,040).
- Vallejo$140,040
- Santa Rosa$138,740
- San Francisco$135,420
- Redding$134,930
- Sacramento$130,750
- San Jose$130,260
- Santa Cruz$126,480
- Stockton$124,800
- Los Angeles$124,760
- Salinas$122,350
Highest-paying cities for environmental engineers
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,100).
- Baton Rouge, LA$144,100
- Kennewick, WA$140,210
- Vallejo, CA$140,040
- Santa Rosa, CA$138,740
- Beaumont, TX$135,550
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Environmental Engineers salary in Salinas: questions
How much do environmental engineers make an hour in Salinas?
$58.82 an hour on average, and $60.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental engineers salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental engineers take-home pay in Salinas?
About $87,606 a year ($7,300 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,350. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do environmental engineers earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($112,910).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2081; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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