Environmental Engineers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $176,660 or more. The middle half of environmental engineers in San Francisco earn between $108,040 and $161,800.
- $77K10th
- $108K25th
- $139KMedian
- $162K75th
- $177K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,420 | $11,285 | $65.11 |
| Median | $138,840 | $11,570 | $66.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $108,040 | $9,003 | $51.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,800 | $13,483 | $77.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Engineers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Environmental engineers in San Francisco earn 8% more than the California average ($125,870) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($112,910). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $107,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $135,420 | $138,840 | $77,050 | $176,660 | 550 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $135,420, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $95,324 a year, or $7,944 a month and $3,666 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 San Francisco a good place for environmental engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $135,420 buys what about $117,132 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Engineers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Environmental Engineers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do environmental engineers make an hour in San Francisco?
$65.11 an hour on average, and $66.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental engineers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $108,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental engineers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $95,324 a year ($7,944 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,420. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do environmental engineers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.