r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 21d ago

2026 Environmental Engineering Salary Survey

22 Upvotes

Once again, I would like to present the 2026 edition of the EnvEng Salary Survey. As always, it is completely optional.

Check it out here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuyvBeaUZhvL3Fd6aCLiFrzBweooRnvsxAv9GopRddcXvipA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged. We do review any feedback received and update the next year's survey accordingly.

Always, previous year's results are available below:

2025

2024 

2023


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • Oct 02 '22

Homework & FE/PE Exam Prep Help Thread

28 Upvotes

Welcome to the Homework & FE/PE Exam Prep Help thread. Feel free to post any and all homework or FE/PE-related questions to this thread. All other rules are still in effect. Please at least make an attempt to do your homework before posting here.

Good luck to all on your midterms/exams!


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 2h ago

Environmental Science vs CS for an international student in Italy. Which is better?

2 Upvotes

Hi, I'm an international student going to Italy (English-taught program) and I'm stuck between Environmental Science and Computer Science.

I like environmental science, but Reddit reviews about jobs and pay scare me. CS seems safer, but my math is not that much good I'm also worried about the language barrier, since I don't speak Italian yet.

For anyone who's been through this:

  1. Did you find a job after studying environmental science? Did you need Italian?
  2. If you moved to another EU country after studying in Italy, did you need that country's language too?
  3. How hard was daily life and job hunting without Italian?
  4. Did skills like GIS or Python matter more than the degree?
  5. Is CS doable with average math?

Honest advice is welcome. Thanks!


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 2h ago

Environmental Science vs CS for an international student in Italy. Which is better?

1 Upvotes

Hi, I'm an international student going to Italy (English-taught program) and I'm stuck between Environmental Science and Computer Science.

I like environmental science, but Reddit reviews about jobs and pay scare me. CS seems safer, but my math is not that much good I'm also worried about the language barrier, since I don't speak Italian yet.

For anyone who's been through this:

  1. Did you find a job after studying environmental science? Did you need Italian?
  2. If you moved to another EU country after studying in Italy, did you need that country's language too?
  3. How hard was daily life and job hunting without Italian?
  4. Did skills like GIS or Python matter more than the degree?
  5. Is CS doable with average math?

Honest advice is welcome. Thanks!


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 12h ago

Environmental Engineer Graduated 8 years ago, no experience so far and wanting to start to get into the industry...Need some help!

7 Upvotes

As the tittle says, I'm a graduated environmental engineer, I graduated in 2018 (but never studied really too much during school, was a dumb teenager, wasted a lot of time and now I want to change that) and never did anything with my title, but now I'm 31... and have found the hard way how much easier life would be if I had a better income as an engineer instead of working at any side hustle or shitty job without a title.

But after so many years, no experience and also not being the best student I feel very intimidated when I see the required experience and skills to qualify for a job, I live in Colombia; and I would like to see if someone with a big heart could help me have a direction on where to go to start studying and getting on track with the career again by myself (with the help of chatgpt); I just feel overwhelmed and feel like don't know where to go and like I won't be able to make it; but at the same time I want to.

So if someone with a big heart could help me with any direction I would really appreciate it, which skills you recomend me to develop, what to start studying to have a bigger chance to find a good paying job and build a career; and feel comfortable to aply for a job.

THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR KIND HEARTH AND GUIDANCE


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 19h ago

Navigating New York States PE Requirements with a non-ABET education

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8 Upvotes

I am currently in grad school for Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. I have an undergrad in Environmental Science and Ecology.

NYS has an option for those who dont have an ABET undergrad, but are very vague with the wording. I reached out to them looking for clarification, and they said I have to apply for licensure before they can tell me whether my education is sufficient.

Im wondering if anyone can tell me what my odds of getting to sit for the FE are given my education. Something else im considering is that I'm about 2 semesters away from an undergrad in mathematics. Would pursuing that better my odds? What else can I do to try to ensure my education is up to snuff?


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 1d ago

Research Article Help

5 Upvotes

Hi, so I'm undergraduate environmental engineering student 5th sem and want to do research work. I've done many projects out of which the toughest one was conversion of waste cooking oil into biodiesel (transesterification) and also made sure no waste was left and all is used in every way. If there are any other articles topics which are interesting and workable, doesn't matter the genre, hit me up with some interesting ideas and maybe we might click


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 1d ago

specifications - hyping yourself up and staying motivated

5 Upvotes

mid career here, but doing detailed design for the first time and v excited. I normally do feasibility studies/master planning, bench scale studies and pilot testing so this is all newish to me, but I'm enjoying it.

I'm putting together specs for the first time for a project and want to keep myself hyped up to do it. specs usually get a bad rap, and if I focus on that I'll lose motivation. I also have ADHD, but like my job and the implications enough to make it work, as long as I finesse a way to keep things exciting.

so here are my questions to discuss!!

what is your favorite part of doing spec works?

it feels like a marathon rather than a sprint - is that true and how do you stay on track?

why do specs get such a bad rap - is that accurate or just poorly planned projects??

what are the biggest parts of spec projects to avoid "catastrophes" later on when the deliverable goes in


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 1d ago

Inedible crop waste 2G ethanol vs biogas ?

1 Upvotes

Compare both approaches in terms of economic viability and environment benefits.
Here I am inclined towards biogas because it's easy to install, low cost. It don't need big companies money to setup. And can be installed near farmer's field.


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 2d ago

Starting as a new, entry-level Air Pollution Control Engineer as someone with a Mechanical Engineering background. Would appreciate some advice!

7 Upvotes

Title says it all. I have a degree in mechanical engineering but recently got a job as an air pollution control engineer. I have a few weeks until I start, and was wondering if anyone had any advice. Should I read some environmental engineering books to get some baseline knowledge, and if so which ones? It sounds like they will teach a lot and encourage me to get my FE and PE (which I want to do!), but I want to make sure I'm going in with the right mindset and baseline knowledge. Thanks! :)


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 2d ago

Environmental Engineering in Europe

10 Upvotes

Hi! I’m an Environmental Engineering student from Brazil, and I’m curious about what it’s like to work in this field in Europe.

If you’re an environmental engineer working in Europe, I’d love to hear about your experience and whether you think it’s a good career path there.

If you’re comfortable with it, I’d also really appreciate being able to ask you a few questions through private messages. No worries if not!

Thanks! :)


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 2d ago

Could the Dust in a Gulf Dust Storm Be Carrying Microplastics?

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0 Upvotes

r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 3d ago

Looking to switch from env consulting/remediation to WRE and/or W/WW (advice please!)

6 Upvotes

Hey all,

Got my BS in Environmental Engineering in 2025 with an internship at an environmental contractor (remediation) and then a govt agency the following year in their construction branch (QA/QC on a remediation project). After graduating I got a job at one of the largest AEC firms with my expectation being that I was going to be working on more remediation projects but that’s been far from the case. I’ve been stuck doing permitting (some co-located infrastructure stuff also) for a large transmission line project in my state with extremely limited field work opportunities. I don’t enjoy the permitting work at all and I feel as though I’m being pigeon-holed. Other junior staff in my office that have a few more years on me always get preference on fieldwork and I feel as though I literally have to beg for opportunities and to get put on other projects. As a result, I’m stuck doing permitting because it keeps me billable and I have less time to reach out to my peers/manager for other work.

While I’ve enjoyed most of those fieldwork opportunities and had a taste of some consulting/remediation fieldwork, I’ve quickly realized after interviewing with other smaller firms that do this work that it is very far from glamorous (my company is very large so they get the cool high profile remediation projects in comparison), and the expectations would be terrible pay and a lot of hours in comparison to WRE or W/WW. I have some peers who work in water/wastewater and water resources and I know the first few years won’t be glamorous either, but at least they have better hours and pay (at least anecdotally anyways). I’ve interviewed for a few of these positions myself and because I don’t have much experience in water I’ve always been rejected because another candidate has better experience than I do.

Wondering advice on how I should approach this, how I could use my experience to leverage these entry level positions, or advice while I’m still in my current role at my company to see what I can do in the meantime. Any and all advice is appreciated, thanks for your time!:)


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 3d ago

Env engineer, needing a job

8 Upvotes

So it's been a year of trying to find an EIT position...(graduated Aug. '25). I'm currently in Dallas, and while I hate it here, I really just want to find an engineering position wherever (literally anywhere in the US).

I've been applying all over the U.S. for positions and I don't know what to do at this point. I passed the EnvE FE exam, completed my degree but yet I cannot find an entry level position. If anyone knows what to do even as a temporary internship or lab position I'd be so grateful to hear about it.

Thank you in advance :)


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 3d ago

Help, doubdt on how to raise funds for an eco friendly – project

2 Upvotes

I want to promote these technologies; I have an interested community because they are more affordable alternatives to conventional options. The authorities in my country aren't very interested in helping us, so the only viable path we saw was to raise funds to build a test section—I don't need much, just around 8,000 dollars. Does anyone know who I could turn to or where I could go for help?. Please.


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 4d ago

Wanted to ask if anyone has some projects in the field of air, water, energy?

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2 Upvotes

r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 6d ago

Improved BOD Modelling Using the FOLD Approach for Wastewater Treatment Design

1 Upvotes

New paper published in Water and Environment Journal

“Improved BOD Modeling Using the FOLD Approach for Wastewater Treatment Design”

Full-text read-only version:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/QZVHZDPJFPREETQDIKSM?target=10.1111/wej.70098

#BOD #Wastewater #EnvironmentalEngineering #WaterResearch


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 6d ago

Is water resources engineering in demand?

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2 Upvotes

r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 6d ago

Part Time Engineering jobs?

4 Upvotes

I’m looking for help with ideas for engineering or engineering adjacent jobs or companies that allow for part time work (ideally 3 days a week but would also accept 4 days a week).

I’m sure they must exist but I can’t seem to find them… does anyone here manage to work part time in environmental engineering?

I’m hoping to work towards something part time in the next 3-5yrs and am open to getting extra certs/courses that support it in the meantime. Mostly interested in jobs in Calgary and maybe Vancouver/lower mainland area. Open to working in any industry and likely would be ok with a lower salary.

Current experience is in environmental engineering - remediation/reclamation project management and indigenous consultation and indigenous relations in oil and gas. Have experience supervising teams and informally leading teams. I find the time I’ve spent solving complex people and process challenges and mentoring/coaching newer staff the most rewarding.

What options exist? Any niche options?


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 6d ago

Robotics vs Environmental Engineering

2 Upvotes

I am a bit lost on what to do.

I am a sophomore, moving into my second semester soon, and I have no clue which engineering I should be going into.

I started out in robotics, tried a semester of environmental and now I’m torn.

I am very passionate about the environment, especially in attempting to reclaim it from the current damage. I don’t however, really want to work in consulting if I can help it, which I hear is a big part of the industry. I think the water plants, and such, are fine but they don’t seem all that interesting to me on an industry level.

I am also passionate about robotics, and have been since Highschool. I found everything to do with robotics fascinating. However, I don’t know with the current CS industry struggling and a lot of the software part being burned up, if it’s reasonable to go into it now or not. I also have no clue what industry looks like, since it’s so niche in my area.

If I can help it, I would like my work to be something I care for. That actual helps, and affects the world around me, not just industry. But I don’t know if that’s nothing but a dream in the current economy.

Any advice?


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 7d ago

Cheat sheet for pump sizing

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50 Upvotes

Groundwater pumps are used in many environmental engineering projects, from groundwater remediation to construction dewatering. Choosing a pump starts with the required flow rate and the total dynamic head it must deliver.

But if you are like me then you probably don't do this pump sizing everyday. So I put together this cheat sheet to remind myself how to do the sizing calculation whenever it comes up. I hope you find it handy.


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 7d ago

Help!! What skills to gain to become employable??

5 Upvotes

Hello all,

I graduated last year with a bachelor's in environmental engineering from a top 10 engineering school in the US with no engineering-related job experience and I am looking for advice for what I can work on that I can (maybe put on my resume or linkedin or in my certifications) prove to employers I am a good candidate. Ideally, I'd like to go into stormwater management engineering as that's the group I was in for my capstone project and I enjoyed it (side note: is this even a career that I can pursue or do employers prefer civil engineers?).

So basically, I'm wondering which type of CAD I should learn/take a course on/hopefully get a certificate in proving I'm slightly knowledgeable in it. Along with this, does anyone have suggestions for online courses I can take for whatever version of CAD I need? Are there other things similar to CAD I can prove myself in that employers wanting environmental engineers are interested in?

Other advice in regard to getting a job is welcome, I'm kinda desperate since I didn't get an engineering-related internship during college to get experience, so anything helps.

Btw, I already passed the FE exam.

Also, sorry if this is difficult to read, writing is obviously not my fav subject.

Thank you!!


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 7d ago

Improved BOD Modelling Using the FOLD Approach for Wastewater Treatment Design - Devassy - Water and Environment Journal - Wiley Online Library

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1 Upvotes

Does BOD really follow a single reaction order throughout the incubation period?

I’ve been working on BOD kinetics and I’m interested in getting some practical feedback from people who work with wastewater treatment and BOD testing.

A common approach is to represent BOD exertion using a fixed reaction order/rate constant. But when looking at BOD measurements over longer incubation periods, the apparent rate of oxygen consumption can change substantially with time.

This raises a question:

Is it reasonable to assume that BOD follows one fixed kinetic order throughout the entire incubation period, or should the apparent reaction order/rate be allowed to vary with time?

I’ve been investigating a continuous fractional–logistic formulation as one possible way of representing this behaviour.

For those working with BOD testing or wastewater process modelling:

  • Do you see evidence of changing kinetics in your datasets?
  • How do you normally handle deviations from first-order BOD kinetics?
  • Is a more flexible kinetic model actually useful in practice, or does the additional complexity outweigh the benefit?

I'm particularly interested in practical experience and criticism of the modelling assumptions.

I’ve published the detailed formulation and analysis here: https://doi.org/10.1111/wej.70098


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 7d ago

Considering a career in hydrology/environmental engineering

10 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm currently in community college right now doing pre reqs and, I took a five year gap from school as I didn't know what I wanted to do. For the past year I've been very interested in hydrology/environmental engineering, specifically in conservation. I really want to do environmental/civil engineering and focus on hydrology but I'm nervous about engineering school as I'm not very good at math. Is this something you guys recommend me pursuing?


r/EnvironmentalEngineer • • 7d ago

Advice on gaining experience

2 Upvotes

Hello, I’m 31 and currently work as a wastewater plant operator. I graduated college with a business degree and have decided I want to go back and earn an environmental engineering degree. I’ll be doing school part time, so I know I have a long road ahead of me. Just wanted to gain insight on how I should approach gaining experience for when I graduate and start to apply for positions?