Environmental Engineering Degree Programs in Florida (2026)

Quick answer: Environmental Engineers in Florida earn a median $116,840 per year, above the national median of $107,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 1,800 of them. Licensing runs through your state engineering licensing board.

Environmental Engineering Pay and Employment in Florida at a Glance

MetricFloridaNationalSource
Median annual wage$116,840$107,110BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$57,240$69,990BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$75,570$83,570BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$146,960$134,420BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$154,130$162,220BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment1,80038,340BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.731.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state3.9%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Florida Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Florida median of $116,840 sits above the national median of $107,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.73 puts Florida below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Florida

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Cape Coral$142,70050
Gainesville$126,44050
Tallahassee$121,39050
Jacksonville$115,210200
North Port$111,63050
Palm Bay$107,93070
Pensacola$102,59040
Miami$99,600240
Orlando$82,500220

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Environmental engineering work tracks the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure, industrial permitting load and any active remediation sites.

Environmental Engineers Wages by Metro Area in Florida

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), environmental engineers wages in Florida vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater460N/AN/AN/AN/A
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach240$99,600$108,490$61,570$173,100
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford220$82,500$95,580$42,830$158,400
Jacksonville200$115,210$115,610$73,160$159,990
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville70$107,930$109,520$70,880$150,860
Cape Coral-Fort Myers50$142,700$121,630$60,320$160,670
Gainesville50$126,440$110,140$54,590$141,250
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota50$111,630$108,630$50,400$155,350
Tallahassee50$121,390$113,090$66,250$148,380
Lakeland-Winter Haven40N/AN/AN/AN/A
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent40$102,590$102,320$62,020$153,620

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Florida Metro Areas With Published Data

Jacksonville * Miami * Orlando

Licensing and Credentials in Florida

Environmental engineering is licensure-dependent for a specific reason: water, wastewater, air and remediation designs are submitted to state environmental agencies for permitting, and those submittals generally carry a Professional Engineer seal. The national framework is an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam in environmental engineering. Whether a state accepts an ABET ETAC (engineering technology) degree toward licensure varies, and so do comity rules between states.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state engineering licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#2

Florida International University

Miami, FL 157.2 miles away BOC Score 82.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 74.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 23
  • Annual completions: 2714
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,192 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL 54.6 miles away BOC Score 81.8
Tuition $6,410 - $22,859
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 43.2%
  • Graduation rate: 75.7%
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 1522
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,079 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL 162.5 miles away BOC Score 74.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 84.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 437
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $85,019 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL 132.2 miles away BOC Score 72.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 777 Glades Rd, Administration Bldg., Room 339 Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
  • (561) 297-3000
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 63.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 1218
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,690 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL 90.1 miles away BOC Score 68.7
Tuition $6,118 - $25,162
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 63.4%
  • Graduation rate: 56.7%
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 750
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,369 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Florida Polytechnic University

Lakeland, FL 31.2 miles away BOC Score 46.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 54.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 7
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $86,952 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do environmental engineers make in Florida?

The median annual wage for environmental engineers in Florida is $116,840, above the national median of $107,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $75,570 at the 25th percentile to $146,960 at the 75th.

How many environmental engineers work in Florida?

Florida holds about 1,800 environmental engineer jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 38,340, and BLS projects about 3,000 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a environmental engineer in Florida?

Environmental engineering is licensure-dependent for a specific reason: water, wastewater, air and remediation designs are submitted to state environmental agencies for permitting, and those submittals generally carry a Professional Engineer seal. The national framework is an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience, then the PE exam in environmental engineering. Whether a state accepts an ABET ETAC (engineering technology) degree toward licensure varies, and so do comity rules between states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state engineering licensing board before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a ABET-accredited environmental engineering bachelor's online while working in Florida?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state engineering licensing board.

What is the highest-paying area of Florida for environmental engineers?

Among Florida metro areas with published data, Cape Coral reports the highest median at $142,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Florida a good state for environmental engineers?

On pay, the state median of $116,840 sits above the national $107,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.73 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Environmental Engineers (SOC 17-2081), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.