Environmental Engineer.
Denver.
$97,000
median salary, 8% above the national average
$76,000 to $124,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
The median Environmental Engineer salary in Denver is $97,000, 8% above the national average. Entry level starts near $76,000. Experienced professionals push past $124,000. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
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How Denver compares
Denver, CO
$97,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$90,000
Denver is $7,000 above
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Environmental Engineer roles in Denver, here is what you are walking into. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The city attracts remote workers and relocating companies seeking lower costs than the coasts. Salaries have climbed steadily as national employers open satellite offices and compete for Denver's growing talent pool. 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 Denver, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
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: colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Denver has no additional city income tax, making the overall tax burden lighter than most coastal metros. When someone quotes you $97,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Position yourself as a remote talent anchor. Many companies pay near coastal rates for Denver based employees to save on office costs while retaining top performers. The range for Environmental Engineers in Denver runs from $76,000 to $124,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Denver
Negotiating in Denver
Position yourself as a remote talent anchor. Many companies pay near coastal rates for Denver based employees to save on office costs while retaining top performers.