Environmental Engineering Degree in Pittsburgh, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Environmental Engineering degree analysis for Pittsburgh, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$109K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Environmental Engineering in Pittsburgh, PA Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (pop. 302,971) has 12 colleges offering Environmental Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 115 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,285/month. Environmental Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Water Treatment and Air Quality skills. The adjusted starting salary in Pittsburgh is approximately $74,750.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$19,718/yr
Private Tuition
$61,344/yr
Room & Board
$15,793/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,441/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
63%
Environmental Engineering Salary in Pittsburgh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Environmental Engineering salary: $65,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Pittsburgh adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Environmental Engineering ROI Calculator for Pittsburgh
Estimate your return on investment for a Environmental Engineering degree using local Pittsburgh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $19,718 | Private avg: $61,344
Pittsburgh avg aid: $13,441/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$142,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,500
vs HS diploma in Pittsburgh
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pittsburgh
$720,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($862,500) minus total education cost ($142,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Environmental Engineering in Pittsburgh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pittsburgh for Environmental Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
public
$19,718/yr
$78,872 total
Carnegie Mellon University
private
$61,344/yr
$245,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Allegheny County
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Environmental Engineering in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Environmental Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pittsburgh Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Environmental Engineering Job Titles
Environmental Engineering in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$98K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Allentown, PA
$73K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$77K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$78K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$61K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$78K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$81K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$59K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Pittsburgh
Petroleum Engineering
$58K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$94K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$92K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$92K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$90K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Environmental Engineering Degree in Pittsburgh — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Environmental Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Pittsburgh.