EngineeringUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Environmental Engineer Salary
in Bellevue, WA

Develop solutions to environmental problems including pollution control and waste management. Median salary in Bellevue: $119K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$119K
per year
Take-home: $84K

Salary range in Bellevue

Entry level (25th)$88,000
Median (50th)$119,000
Senior (75th)$155,000
Top earner (90th)$196,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Bellevue, Washington. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Bellevue

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

29% premium vs national median

Environmental Engineers in Bellevue earn approximately 29% higher than the US national median for this role β€” a $27,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Bellevue's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Bellevue's cost-of-living index (175), the median Environmental Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $68,000 in a US-average-cost city. That's $24,000 less purchasing power than the national median β€” the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.

No state income tax β€” $11K effective edge

Washington has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $11,067 per year at this salary level compared to a California Environmental Engineer on the same gross pay. A Bellevue Environmental Engineer would need to earn $131,202 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for Bellevue

Median salary
$119K
annual
Take-home pay
$84K
after fed/state tax
COL index
175
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$2,800
per month
YoY growth
+4.2%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Bellevue Environmental Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $119K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Bellevue

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Environmental Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$100K$109K$118K$126K$135K201920212023202520272029
2026
$122K
projected
2027
$125K
projected
2028
$128K
projected
2029
$131K
projected
2030
$135K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$119,000+$0
2028 projected$119,000+$0
2029 projected$119,000+$0
2030 projected$119,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Environmental Engineer Salary in Bellevue, Washington: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Environmental Engineer salary in Bellevue, WA is $119,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Bellevue–WA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Environmental Engineer in Bellevue

Entry-level Environmental Engineers in Bellevue with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $88,000 and $119,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $119,000 to $155,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $155,000 to $196,000 or more.

Cost of living in Bellevue for Environmental Engineers

Bellevue has a cost of living index of 175 compared to the US national average of 100. Bellevue's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Crucially, Washington has no state income tax β€” giving Bellevue-based Environmental Engineers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Environmental Engineer

Bachelor's in Environmental Engineering; PE license. 28% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Environmental Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Bellevue (current)$119K175
Seattle$115K150
Spokane$85K95
Tacoma$101K128
Vancouver$99K118
Kirkland$114K162