Environmental Engineers in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Illinois environmental engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $87,090 and $123,960, with a median of $107,990.
Environmental Engineers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 30 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $102,421. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 6 | $70,758 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $94,486 |
| Level III — experienced | 10 | $115,625 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $117,478 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Environmental Engineers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UChicago Argonne, LLC | Energy Systems Analyst | 9 | $90,063 |
| Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | Senior Engineer | 4 | $117,478 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | Senior Air Quality Management Engineer | 3 | $140,000 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | Energy Systems Analyst | 3 | $92,768 |
| University of Illinois | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 2 | $62,711 |
| BP America Inc. | Lead Energy Analytics | 1 | $124,030 |
| CDM Smith Inc. | Environmental Engineer 2 | 1 | $79,040 |
| Chastain & Associates LLC | Project Engineer | 1 | $99,840 |
| Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. | Project Manager, Solid Waste Engineer | 1 | $96,741 |
| Environmental Resources Management, Inc. | Principal Consultant, Air Quality | 1 | $134,940 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Appointee at UChicago Argonne, LLC$72,879LemontWage Level IDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715942
- Senior Air Quality Management Engineer at Archer Daniels Midland Company$140,000DecaturWage Level IIIDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-617497
- Principal Engineer at Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.$146,848Oak BrookWage Level IVDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-458299
- Environmental Engineer at Stantec Consulting Services Inc.$121,264LombardWage Level IIDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-447085
- Lead Energy Analytics at BP America Inc.$124,030ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-425118
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Illinois$62,421UrbanaWage Level IDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-413768
- Sr Coordinator, Technical Services (Env & Industrial Safety) at Fibre Box Association$95,000ItascaWage Level IDecided Nov 4, 2025I-200-25268-335708
- Principal Consultant, Air Quality at Environmental Resources Management, Inc.$134,940Rolling MeadowsWage Level IIIDecided Aug 14, 2025I-200-25219-228061
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Environmental Engineers pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Environmental Engineers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 17 certified offers. The most common variant is Energy Systems Analyst at a median of $94,486.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Systems Analyst | UChicago Argonne, LLC | 7 | $94,486 |
| Environmental Engineer | Archer Daniels Midland Company | 4 | $94,001 |
| Senior Engineer | Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. | 3 | $117,478 |
| Postdoctoral Appointee | UChicago Argonne, LLC | 3 | $70,758 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Environmental Engineers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 30 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $102,421.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | UChicago Argonne, LLC | 22 | $102,421 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 3 | $63,000 |
| Manufacturing | Archer Daniels Midland Company | 3 | $140,000 |
| Energy and utilities | BP America Inc. | 1 | $124,030 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Fibre Box Association | 1 | $95,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.5 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
- 02
Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
- 03
Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
- 04
Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
- 05
Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
- 06
Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
- 07
Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
- 08
Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for environmental engineers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$110,700
Compare Environmental Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Illinois with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Environmental Engineers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Environmental Engineers in Illinois is $107,990.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Environmental Engineers?
- The Illinois median is -1.7% versus the BLS national figure of $109,833.
- What is the salary range for Environmental Engineers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,990 and the 90th-percentile at $153,150, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Environmental Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Environmental Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.