Environmental Engineering Degree in Spokane Valley, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Environmental Engineering degree analysis for Spokane Valley, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$80K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$117K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
123.1
index (100 = avg)
Environmental Engineering in Spokane Valley, WA Overview
While Spokane Valley has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Environmental Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,918/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Environmental Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Water Treatment and Air Quality skills. The adjusted starting salary in Spokane Valley is approximately $80,015.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,918/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,539/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
49%
Environmental Engineering Salary in Spokane Valley (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Spokane Valley's cost of living index of 123.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Environmental Engineering salary: $65,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Spokane Valley adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Environmental Engineering ROI Calculator for Spokane Valley
Estimate your return on investment for a Environmental Engineering degree using local Spokane Valley tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Spokane Valley avg aid: $15,539/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,872
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,930
vs HS diploma in Spokane Valley
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Spokane Valley
$812,378
Lifetime earnings premium ($923,250) minus total education cost ($110,872)
Student Loan Payoff for Environmental Engineering in Spokane Valley
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Spokane Valley for Environmental Engineering
Spokane Valley State University
public
$10,998/yr
$43,992 total
University of Spokane Valley
public
$12,426/yr
$49,704 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Spokane Valley Community College
$5,510/yr
Top Employers for Environmental Engineering in Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Environmental Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Spokane Valley Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Environmental Engineering Job Titles
Environmental Engineering in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$78K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$79K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$73K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$71K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$116K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$75K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$77K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$80K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Spokane Valley
Petroleum Engineering
$62K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$62K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$101K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$62K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$98K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$98K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$96K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$62K starting · 3 yr ROI
Environmental Engineering Degree in Spokane Valley — 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 Spokane Valley.