Jobs Similar to Environmental Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to environmental engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Water Resource Specialists, Water/Wastewater Engineers and Energy Engineers.
Environmental Engineers: $107,110 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Environmental Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water Resource Specialists | 86% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 85% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 82% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Petroleum EngineersSame group | 82% | $144,910+35% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Transportation EngineersSame group | 81% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 80% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSame group | 80% | $115,160+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 80% | $64,950−39% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Civil EngineersSame group | 80% | $100,840−6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 80% | $106,220−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 80% | $133,970+25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Materials Scientists | 80% | $117,790+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Industrial Ecologists | 79% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Conservation Scientists | 79% | $73,010−32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 79% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Solar Energy Systems EngineersSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 78% | $125,040+17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 78% | $98,590−8% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Water Resource Specialists
86% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Water/Wastewater Engineers
85% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Environmental Restoration Planners
82% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 5Petroleum Engineers
82% similar · $144,910 (+35%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Transportation Engineers
81% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
80% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
80% similar · $115,160 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
80% similar · $64,950 (−39%) · Training or associate
- 10Wind Energy Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Civil Engineers
80% similar · $100,840 (−6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
80% similar · $106,220 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Nuclear Engineers
80% similar · $133,970 (+25%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Materials Scientists
80% similar · $117,790 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Industrial Ecologists
79% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Conservation Scientists
79% similar · $73,010 (−32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
79% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Solar Energy Systems Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Chemical Engineers
78% similar · $125,040 (+17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Agricultural Engineers
78% similar · $98,590 (−8%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than environmental engineers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for environmental engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where environmental engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Water Resource Specialists (96)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (89)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (87)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (86)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (84)
- Hydrologists (84)
- Conservation Scientists (83)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (83)
- Industrial Ecologists (83)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (82)
Questions about jobs like environmental engineers
What jobs are most similar to environmental engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Water Resource Specialists (86% similar), Water/Wastewater Engineers (85% similar), Energy Engineers (82% similar), Environmental Restoration Planners (82% similar) and Petroleum Engineers (82% similar).
Which jobs like environmental engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +35%; usually a bachelor's degree), Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +25%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Chemical Engineers ($125,040, +17%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with environmental engineers ($107,110). Without more preparation than environmental engineers usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Nuclear Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.