Environmental Engineers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $143,040 or more. The middle half of environmental engineers in Durham earn between $77,910 and $139,380.
- $77K10th
- $78K25th
- $108KMedian
- $139K75th
- $143K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $112,320 | $9,360 | $54.00 |
| Median | $107,950 | $8,996 | $51.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,910 | $6,492 | $37.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $139,380 | $11,615 | $67.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Engineers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Environmental engineers in Durham earn 7% more than the North Carolina average ($104,970) and about the same as the U.S. average ($112,910). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $107,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $112,320 | $107,950 | $76,640 | $143,040 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $104,970 | $99,440 | $69,000 | $143,040 | n/a |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $112,320, a single filer in Durham takes home about $83,874 a year, or $6,990 a month and $3,226 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for environmental engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $112,320 buys what about $115,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Durham: questions
How much do environmental engineers make an hour in Durham?
$54.00 an hour on average, and $51.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental engineers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental engineers take-home pay in Durham?
About $83,874 a year ($6,990 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $112,320.
Do environmental engineers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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