Environmental Engineer.
Jersey City.
$106,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
$82,000 to $135,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Jersey City is 20% more expensive than the national average. For Environmental Engineers, that shakes out to a median of $106,000, with the full range spanning $82,000 to $135,000. PE licensure, specialization in water treatment or air quality, and experience with EPA regulatory compliance drive the biggest salary differences. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $95,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$69,000
to $85,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$90,000
to $111,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$117,000
to $138,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$133,000
to $164,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$106,000
Equity
$16,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $134,000
How Jersey City compares
Jersey City, NJ
$106,000
Cost of living: 20% above average
National Average
$90,000
Jersey City is $16,000 above
Environmental Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Jersey City
What you should know
Here is what the Environmental Engineer market actually looks like in Jersey City. Jersey City has become a major financial technology hub, with Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and numerous fintech startups establishing offices. The city offers Manhattan-adjacent salaries with slightly lower costs. Tech employment has surged as companies seek NYC-area talent at reduced overhead. PE licensure, specialization in water treatment or air quality, and experience with EPA regulatory compliance drive the biggest salary differences. Engineers working on remediation of contaminated sites or in the oil and gas sector earn premiums for hazardous conditions expertise.
Junior Environmental Engineers earn $70,000 to $80,000. Mid-career engineers with PE licensure reach $88,000 to $105,000. Senior Engineers and Project Managers command $105,000 to $130,000, while Principal Engineers and Directors at consulting firms exceed $145,000. In Jersey City, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 20% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. PE-licensed engineers receive immediate salary bumps of 10 to 15%. Annual bonuses of 5 to 12% are typical at consulting firms. Government roles offer pension benefits and strong job security, though base salaries trend 10 to 15% lower than private sector. And on the tax side: new Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75%. Jersey City has a payroll tax but no separate city income tax. The high state rate makes salary negotiation especially important. When someone quotes you $106,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against NYC salaries. Jersey City employers offer 90 to 95% of Manhattan pay, and the lower commuting costs can make it a net positive. The range for Environmental Engineers in Jersey City runs from $82,000 to $135,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Motion Designer in Jersey City earns $107,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Jersey City is Distinguished Engineer at $384,000
Common questions.
Environmental Engineer salary in other cities
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