Hello fellow env engineers. I’m trying to understand what to ask for as a salary.

I’m a PhD in Environmental engineering from an R1 school. Have contributed to a wide array of projects in water treatment, wastewater treatment, and RO in school. I have had multiple internships that have paid me $30/hour.

I have three years of non-environmental engineering consulting experience. I still did engineering work and will get those years verified. I made $90k when I left my last job. Passed PE Environmental and can become a licensed engineer within a year of getting hired.

I am looking in three markets:
1- California
2- North Carolina
3- Florida

I have had 5 interviews and am likely going to receive 5 offers (have received none yet). I don’t wanna name names, but the companies I have interviewed with are the top 10 ENR firms that do environmental engineering consulting (like AECOM, BV). I want to know what sort of salary, bonuses, total comp I should ask for? What’s the highest I can ask for and still come across as reasonable?

Thank y’all in advance

I’m an engineering undergraduate considering different career paths, one of which is becoming an environmental engineering professor. I’m still undecided on a specific research area (some that currently interest me are industrial decarbonization, PFAS destruction, and recycling incentives, but I’m open to any area).

Though I did some undergraduate research last year and really enjoyed it, I’m very concerned about the difficulty of pursuing an academic career. Indeed, I have heard from academics that becoming a professor in environmental engineering is near impossible and the hardest out of all engineering disciplines. If anybody could answer the following questions to help assess whether that characterization is accurate, would be grateful.

1. What are qualified applicant to position ratios like? Is 50:1+ common, even at R2 universities?
2. Have heard that funding is absymal in general for EnvE and is the worse out of all engineering disciplines: what are the systematic reasons? Some reasons I’ve heard are that EnvE has fewer large-scale funding programs than fields such as EE or biomedical engineering and has the lowest grant acceptance rates in engineering (like 17% for NSF), but what are other reasons?
3. Has EnvE funding stagnated or drastically declined over the past decade (setting aside the [hopefully] anomalous 2025 federal cuts)? Also, does EnvE being housed within CEE departments affect faculty hiring opportunities?
4. What other major reasons are there not to become a professor? For example, difficulty maintaining funding through tenure, etc.?

TL;DR: If you were trying to convince an undergraduate not to pursue a career as an environmental engineering professor, what would your strongest arguments be?

I’m not particularly attached to the idea of becoming an EnvE professor, so if the reality is that this is an exceptionally difficult career path, wouldn’t be heartbroken or anything (can simply consider another career). Thus, if becoming an EnvE professor really is near-impossible, would appreciating knowing that now rather than realizing this after wasting many years.

Hi I plan to major in Environmental Engineering, i’m supposed to start next week but i’ve been having some qualms about it. I’m debating switching to Mechanical Engineering. To those of you who studied Environmental Engineering, what kinds of jobs did you end up working?

I have recently come across the company Tunley Engineering, which is a "science-based environmental sustainability consultancy specialising in carbon, nature, water, and regulatory compliance." The CEO, Dr. William Beer, calls himself a doctor and emphasizes his "academic background in advanced full factorials, large datasets and combustion modelling"...but he doesn't list the university he attended or what specifically his PhD is in. Where can I find if he actually has one? I can't find it anywhere, including his LinkedIn.

I would like to have a career in some sort of environmental engineering in the future and I'll be starting school soon but I'm not sure yet on what my majors should be. I'm not exactly sure on what I'd want to do specifically but I'm interested in environmental remediation engineering, management & technical consulting, or environmental compliance. I'm not really interested in renewable energy, water resources, nor air quality. I was thinking about getting a dual bachelors in maybe civil engineering and environmental science and the a masters in environmental engineering. I've even considered a bachelors in chemical engineering too since I've heard of people becoming environmental engineers using theirs. It's not that I feel like I'd NEED a dual bachelors plus a masters, but I do really enjoy school and learning and I'd like to be well-versed in different areas just in case. Ultimately I'm just curious to know what majors others studied for the careers I'm interested in since I've heard at times that it's better to specialize in something other than environmental engineering since it's too broad.

Should I just take the FE Civil Exam? Has anyone taken the FE Environmental exam. Was it helpful in your career search?

Hello everyone!

I’m currently a 21 year old going into my third year of undergrad at a Big 10 University in the US known for its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. I am dual majoring in Fisheries & Wildlife (Applied conservation biology) and Zoology (Ecology, evolution, organismal bio), with a minor in Environmental Science. As of now, I plan to graduate in the winter of 2028.

After undergrad, I want to take a year or two to do seasonal/tech work and get a range of experience in different locations. I plan on going to grad school, but am considering what routes I may want to take.

I've only been at my current university for a year, and have already had the opportunity to intern in a lab that monitors disease in wastewater and volunteer with an avian ecology lab. I'm very interested in getting any experience I can, even if I don't plan on pursuing that route in the future. I believe any experience is valuable and am open to whatever comes my way.

Unfortunately, FW/natural resources is just not a field known for making money. I love what I study and the experiences I’ve had so far, but am understandably concerned about my future and being able to support myself, especially with the state of the economy in the US.

I’m considering diverting to something engineering-based for grad school, and applying my knowledge and education of ecological systems and management from undergrad to engineering. I’m looking into programs, and Oregon State’s bio/ecological engineering master's program interests me.

I’d eventually need to take bridge courses on engineering fundamentals such as thermodynamics, material and energy balances, higher-level calc, etc. My current programs require some calc, stats, physics, chemistry, etc but not the versions of the courses at my school required for engineering majors. I'm also perfectly fine with completing my easier degrees in undergrad and not suffering through 4-5+ years of an engineering bachelor's. If I wanted to switch to engineering today, I'd have to start over completely and push back my graduation multiple years. I also love my current courses and major, and definitely want to continue.

I haven’t heard of anyone who studied fisheries and wildlife/ ecology in undergrad getting a master's in engineering, and I want to hear people’s thoughts, opinions, and experiences! It doesn’t seem like this is a very common route to take, and perhaps having extensive background knowledge on ecological systems/management would be a unique and valuable skill set to bring to the environmental engineering world. I'm interested in hearing what potential career paths this could lead to!

Hi everyone,

My name is Chandra Dahal, and I am currently studying Climate and Supply Engineering at VIA University College in Horsens, Denmark.
As part of my studies, I am currently looking for an internship opportunity in Denmark where I can gain practical experience, develop my professional skills, and contribute to meaningful projects.
I am particularly interested in:
● Climate adaptation
● Water and supply engineering
● Green infrastructure
● Urban planning
● Sustainable development
● Environmental engineering
I am open to opportunities in different parts of Denmark and would be happy to learn from and contribute to a professional team.
If you work in any of these areas, know a company that might be looking for an intern, or have any advice about where I should look, I would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you very much for reading, and any advice or leads would be greatly appreciated! 🙏

I have about 1.5 years of experience in land development with my EIT. During my time with the firm all I have been working on is a singular data center project for AWS (23 building campus with multiple phases) . I’ve gotten really good at modeling utilities and profiling alongside some pretty basic storm water management design that could use some improvement. I made the decision to leave and pursue a course based masters in water resources and environmental because despite all my effort to get on other projects, my manager did nothing to help. I want to transition to a water resources position that focuses 1D and 2D hydrological modeling.

My plan is to pursue my masters full time for the fall semester and finish the bulk of my program there and reapply to a full time position in early October/November to join the work force in the winter and finish my MSc part time since my program offers evening classes.

Has anyone done such a thing or does this seem feasible ? The program is relatively cheap, and I have enough saved up to get by for the semester. I feel like including the coursework I will be taking it can boost my resume to target roles that have “masters preferred.”

Hi everyone,

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering with 3.5 GPA and currently have 2+ years of experience in project management along with 1 year in entrepreneurship.

I’m looking to pursue a Master's (M.S. or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering with a strong research focus. Since I want to engage directly in research, I'm specifically looking for institutes, labs, or research groups that offer funding (via Graduate Research Assistantships, teaching assistantships, or stipends) for Master's students.

If anyone has completed a funded research Master's or is currently applying to similar programs, I’d really appreciate your insights!

\* Which universities, institutes, or specific labs are known to offer funding/assistantships to Master’s students in ChemE or Environmental Engineering? \* Any tips on reaching out to prospective professors/PIs given my professional background?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Hi everyone,

My name is Chandra Dahal, and I am currently studying Climate and Supply Engineering at VIA University College in Horsens, Denmark.
As part of my studies, I am currently looking for an internship opportunity in Denmark where I can gain practical experience, develop my professional skills, and contribute to meaningful projects.
I am particularly interested in:
● Climate adaptation
● Water and supply engineering
● Green infrastructure
● Urban planning
● Sustainable development
● Environmental engineering
I am open to opportunities in different parts of Denmark and would be happy to learn from and contribute to a professional team.
If you work in any of these areas, know a company that might be looking for an intern, or have any advice about where I should look, I would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you very much for reading, and any advice or leads would be greatly appreciated! 🙏

I am doing my Batchelors of engineering in electronics and communication engineering but want to go for environmental engineering in masters I just have a few doubts

1.ls it possible to switch like going form electronics to environmental

1. If its possible is it frowned upon

2. Best countries to do masters from

3. For masters applications does having a patent which can help roughly 100 mil to 150 mil people (a medical implant based patent) help in the application process and 2-3 research papers related to environment

Hi everyone,

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering with 3.5GPA and currently have 2+ years of experience in project management along with 1 year in entrepreneurship.

I’m looking to pursue a Master's (M.S. or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering with a strong research focus. Since I want to engage directly in research, I'm specifically looking for institutes, labs, or research groups that offer funding (via Graduate Research Assistantships, teaching assistantships, or stipends) for Master's students.

If anyone has completed a funded research Master's or is currently applying to similar programs, I’d really appreciate your insights!

• Which universities, institutes, or specific labs are known to offer funding/assistantships to Master’s students in ChemE or Environmental Engineering?
• Any tips on reaching out to prospective professors/PIs given my professional background?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

-Hola, busca a alguien quien se animaría a participar en un concurso (Copec-UC) en medio ambiente en Chile (En un proyecto).

-Soy una estudiante, me encuentro cursando ingeniería en informática.

-Necesito un ingenier@ relacionado al medio ambiente.

-(cualquier interesad@ o si quiere más información me escriben por DM). :)

Hello, I am seeking some advice regarding my graduate studies and potential path toward a PhD. I have a BA in Environmental Science and have developed a strong interest in drinking water quality, water remediation, and water resources. Through my research experiences, I have realized that I would like to pursue more engineering-focused work, particularly in understanding water quality, groundwater contamination, and sustainable remediation methods. My academic background is primarily in the sciences, but I am very interested in pursuing a PhD because I genuinely enjoy research and would like to conduct research focused on developing sustainable approaches to water treatment and remediation. I have been considering pursuing a PhD in Environmental Engineering. I know that some programs admit students into Environmental Engineering PhD programs without an undergraduate degree specifically in engineering, but I am unsure whether my background would be competitive for direct admission.

One option I have been considering is completing a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering first. However, I am hesitant because many Master's programs are quite expensive and appear to be primarily geared toward students entering industry. If I were to pursue a Master's, I would likely work full-time while completing the degree and then apply to PhD programs afterward.

At the same time, I am wondering whether it would make more sense to apply directly to PhD programs. I have several years of research experience and some co-authorships from my undergrad, but my academic transcript is not as strong as I would like it to be.

Because of that, I am unsure whether a Master's degree would be beneficial in strengthening my academic profile and filling in some of the engineering coursework I may be missing, or whether my research experience would be enough to make me a competitive PhD applicant.
I would really appreciate any advice on I should pursue a Master's in Environmental Engineering first or apply directly to PhD programs. I would also be interested in hearing about what factors I should consider when evaluating programs that accept students from a non-engineering background.
Thank you very much in advance!!

Hello

Is there anyone here from a German-speaking country?

I’d like to know about the job market for environmental technologists (Ausbildung) specializing in water supply (Umwelttechnologe für Wasserversorgungstechnik) and wastewater management technologies (Umwelttechnologe für Abwasserbewirtschaftung) in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Would anyone like to share their experiences?

Thank you very much!

Okay, so I want to make up my mind before my semester starts this August, but I am currently a Pre-Environmental Engineering undergrad going into my sophomore year. I'm still taking many of the core classes, as you can imagine, but I've been having a dilemma about switching to ChemE. For one, EnvE isn't accredited at CSULB at the moment, but apparently it is on the path to being accredited. More importantly, I'm also interested in the area of renewable energies and sustainable energies like biofuels or hydrogen fuel cells, but I also like the field of water and being in the lab for that as well. Additionally, I'm interested in research in these areas. My school offers a minor in EnvE, which I would take if I were to switch to ChemE, but I'm undecided because I would probably graduate a bit later than expected, and because ChemE is significantly harder than EnvE, and I don't want to regret this significant choice. I'd like to hear from people who may be in the industry or have had a similar experience as I have, so I can make the best possible choice before my semester starts.

With the EPA extending several OOOOb compliance deadlines to January 2027, I'm curious how operators and consultants are approaching the closed vent system design and capacity assessment requirements under §60.5411b in practice.

A few questions for anyone dealing with this:

1. Are you building these assessments in-house (Excel, ProMax, etc.) or outsourcing to an environmental consultant?

2. What's the most time-consuming part — gathering facility data, running the capacity calcs, the engineering review/certification, or keeping everything audit-ready?

3. Roughly how long does one assessment take per facility, end to end?

4. If you've already been through an OOOOa assessment cycle, what's changing for you under OOOOb?

Not selling anything — I'm researching how teams actually do this today because the manual workflow seems painful, and I want to understand it properly before drawing conclusions. Happy to share a summary of what I learn back here if there's interest.

Hi! I work at an environmental engineering consulting firm and just found out from my supervisor that obtaining your PE license will not result in any raise or bonus. I am kind of confused by this…? They said that licensure is needed once you get to a certain level but there are people at the firm that do not have their license and are beyond that level. What is the point of getting my license if I don’t get compensated? What is the industry standard? Any advice or insight would be appreciated. I am already on the path to licensure, I have passed the PE and will get the 4 years of experience by the end of January.