Water/Wastewater Engineers Salary by State
The national median pay for water/wastewater engineers is $100,840 a year. By state, it ranges from $84,240 in Georgia to $122,500 in California. These figures are for the broader BLS group “Civil Engineers”.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $68,240
- 25th percentile
- $79,930
- Median
- $100,840
- 75th percentile
- $129,680
- Top 10%
- $163,220
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job (broader BLS group “Civil Engineers”). About 367,840 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $122,500 | +21% | $77,980 | $175,940 | 55,180 |
| 2 | Alaska | $114,730 | +14% | $78,940 | $163,420 | 1,670 |
| 3 | Washington | $110,000 | +9% | $81,840 | $160,670 | 12,590 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $106,730 | +6% | $78,280 | $165,590 | 9,450 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $105,380 | +5% | $64,570 | $156,610 | 3,780 |
| 6 | Oregon | $105,250 | +4% | $77,560 | $166,060 | 4,890 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $104,660 | +4% | $74,640 | $169,220 | 6,900 |
| 8 | Nevada | $104,310 | +3% | $77,480 | $160,820 | 3,560 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $103,900 | +3% | $67,100 | $163,570 | 1,350 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $103,880 | +3% | $78,780 | $164,200 | 1,650 |
| 11 | New York | $103,760 | +3% | $77,290 | $169,050 | 17,500 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $103,150 | +2% | $76,350 | $161,670 | 4,370 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $103,150 | +2% | $68,950 | $149,980 | 2,360 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $101,600 | +1% | $67,950 | $156,380 | 7,180 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $101,480 | +1% | $65,840 | $159,230 | 4,710 |
| 16 | Colorado | $101,420 | +1% | $76,810 | $165,230 | 13,290 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $100,930 | 0% | $65,660 | $143,680 | 2,690 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $100,730 | 0% | $70,760 | $160,520 | 12,810 |
| 19 | Maryland | $100,680 | 0% | $75,550 | $152,730 | 5,240 |
| 20 | Delaware | $100,220 | −1% | $74,560 | $153,100 | 920 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $100,170 | −1% | $49,840 | $162,240 | 1,770 |
| 22 | Illinois | $99,760 | −1% | $69,590 | $157,410 | 13,910 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $99,300 | −2% | $77,800 | $151,020 | 1,270 |
| 24 | Alabama | $99,010 | −2% | $63,930 | $168,370 | 5,370 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $98,760 | −2% | $66,550 | $153,470 | 2,180 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $98,710 | −2% | $64,270 | $139,060 | 1,620 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $98,700 | −2% | $70,050 | $127,090 | 1,440 |
| 28 | Florida | $98,570 | −2% | $58,640 | $166,680 | 23,750 |
| 29 | Indiana | $98,270 | −3% | $64,200 | $140,130 | 4,030 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $98,190 | −3% | $63,290 | $143,740 | 1,380 |
| 31 | Idaho | $98,030 | −3% | $67,250 | $141,020 | 2,630 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $97,850 | −3% | $67,930 | $141,310 | 15,870 |
| 33 | Maine | $97,820 | −3% | $71,080 | $132,600 | 1,240 |
| 34 | Virginia | $97,120 | −4% | $74,000 | $150,710 | 11,350 |
| 35 | Kansas | $96,880 | −4% | $63,260 | $150,640 | 2,880 |
| 36 | Texas | $96,860 | −4% | $63,240 | $164,330 | 34,870 |
| 37 | Utah | $96,830 | −4% | $62,130 | $149,410 | 5,670 |
| 38 | Iowa | $96,430 | −4% | $64,900 | $135,480 | 2,500 |
| 39 | Ohio | $96,220 | −5% | $65,170 | $144,620 | 10,560 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $95,910 | −5% | $65,090 | $154,100 | 5,790 |
| 41 | Vermont | $95,600 | −5% | $68,720 | $129,390 | 770 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $94,600 | −6% | $67,590 | $131,040 | 7,410 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $94,280 | −7% | $62,900 | $131,810 | 2,640 |
| 44 | Montana | $93,070 | −8% | $62,230 | $129,020 | 1,870 |
| 45 | Missouri | $92,750 | −8% | $64,950 | $139,210 | 5,760 |
| 46 | Michigan | $92,100 | −9% | $63,920 | $130,400 | 7,760 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $90,590 | −10% | $67,870 | $133,920 | 990 |
| 48 | Arizona | $89,660 | −11% | $63,740 | $138,030 | 5,940 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $86,930 | −14% | $51,640 | $132,960 | 1,300 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $85,020 | −16% | $44,810 | $132,460 | 1,870 |
| 51 | Georgia | $84,240 | −16% | $62,850 | $153,690 | 9,400 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for the broader group “Civil Engineers”. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Water/Wastewater Engineers salary questions
Which state pays water/wastewater engineers the most?
California, with a median of $122,500 a year (+21% vs. the national median of $100,840). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays water/wastewater engineers the least?
Georgia, with a median of $84,240 a year (−16% vs. national).
Where do most water/wastewater engineers work?
California has the most jobs, about 55,180, with a median of $122,500.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.