Environmental Engineers pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,430 or more. The middle half of environmental engineers in San Luis Obispo earn between $84,240 and $153,560.
- $74K10th
- $84K25th
- $130KMedian
- $154K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,700 | $10,142 | $58.51 |
| Median | $129,780 | $10,815 | $62.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,240 | $7,020 | $40.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $153,560 | $12,797 | $73.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Engineers pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Environmental engineers in San Luis Obispo earn 3% less than the California average ($125,870) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($112,910). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $107,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $121,700 | $129,780 | $73,850 | $164,430 | 60 |
| 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 Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $121,700, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $87,220 a year, or $7,268 a month and $3,355 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 San Luis Obispo a good place for environmental engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $121,700 buys what about $112,067 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Engineers salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 11th 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
- San Luis Obispo$121,700
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 San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do environmental engineers make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$58.51 an hour on average, and $62.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental engineers salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental engineers take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $87,220 a year ($7,268 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,700. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do environmental engineers earn more in San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 2.01, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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