What is the best state to be a environmental engineers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Louisiana is the best state for a environmental engineers: a BLS median of $130,510 is worth $143,945 after the 2025 state income tax ($3,540) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.2), an index of 138.6 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Louisiana has the highest headline BLS median for a environmental engineers at $130,510, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 138.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a environmental engineers salary go least far?

New Hampshire ranks last of 50 states for a environmental engineers: a $88,610 BLS median is worth only $85,067 after tax and cost of living (index 81.9). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Environmental Engineers

Best States to Be a Environmental Engineers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a environmental engineers salary goes furthest in Louisiana — a $130,510 BLS median worth $143,945 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 138.6).

Which US states are best for a environmental engineers after cost of living and tax?

For a environmental engineers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Louisiana #1: a $130,510 BLS median becomes $143,945 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 138.6). New Hampshire ranks last ($85,067, index 81.9). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Louisiana ranks #1 of 50 states for a environmental engineers. Index 100 = the average state; 138.6 means pay goes 38.6% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

138.6

Environmental Engineers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Louisiana	$130,510	$3,540	88.2	$143,945	138.6
2	Nebraska	$120,620	$5,176	90.1	$128,124	123.4
3	Texas	$123,060	—	97.1	$126,791	122.1
4	Ohio	$113,180	$2,411	92.8	$119,397	115.0
5	Washington	$125,460	—	107.0	$117,238	112.9
6	Idaho	$117,520	$5,572	95.5	$117,230	112.9
7	Wyoming	$106,330	—	92.7	$114,714	110.5
8	Kentucky	$107,520	$4,170	90.2	$114,631	110.4
9	New Mexico	$108,360	$4,033	92.2	$113,139	109.0
10	Oregon	$127,100	$10,317	103.4	$112,985	108.8
11	Florida	$116,840	—	103.4	$112,983	108.8
12	South Dakota	$98,890	—	88.6	$111,632	107.5
13	Minnesota	$115,750	$6,382	98.6	$110,897	106.8
14	California	$130,410	$8,006	110.7	$110,553	106.5
15	Alabama	$102,650	$4,868	88.8	$110,087	106.0
16	Nevada	$109,720	—	100.0	$109,743	105.7
17	Alaska	$110,220	—	102.4	$107,680	103.7
18	Connecticut	$114,710	$4,734	103.6	$106,144	102.2
19	Tennessee	$97,190	—	91.9	$105,791	101.9
20	Michigan	$105,080	$4,219	96.2	$104,826	101.0
21	Massachusetts	$115,800	$5,570	105.8	$104,230	100.4
22	Iowa	$94,830	$3,564	87.8	$103,993	100.2
23	Missouri	$98,170	$3,733	90.8	$103,986	100.2
24	Illinois	$107,990	$5,204	100.0	$102,829	99.0
25	Pennsylvania	$103,330	$3,172	97.6	$102,650	98.9
26	North Dakota	$91,370	$544	89.0	$102,099	98.3
27	North Carolina	$99,440	$3,684	94.3	$101,516	97.8
28	Mississippi	$91,100	$3,203	87.0	$101,085	97.4
29	Montana	$100,140	$4,770	94.6	$100,766	97.1
30	Oklahoma	$92,090	$3,837	87.8	$100,467	96.8
31	Utah	$103,380	$4,704	98.9	$99,810	96.1
32	Colorado	$106,890	$4,043	103.1	$99,801	96.1
33	Kansas	$94,070	$4,449	90.1	$99,503	95.8
34	Virginia	$104,940	$5,234	101.1	$98,617	95.0
35	South Carolina	$96,140	$4,353	93.7	$97,907	94.3
36	Indiana	$92,460	$2,744	93.3	$96,129	92.6
37	Rhode Island	$101,140	$3,245	102.3	$95,713	92.2
38	Georgia	$96,530	$4,556	96.3	$95,515	92.0
39	Arkansas	$85,280	$3,117	86.9	$94,508	91.0
40	Hawaii	$107,880	$6,669	110.0	$92,051	88.7
41	Maine	$93,930	$4,767	97.0	$91,873	88.5
42	Wisconsin	$89,990	$3,617	94.1	$91,793	88.4
43	Arizona	$93,970	$1,874	100.7	$91,476	88.1
44	Delaware	$95,720	$4,977	99.8	$90,918	87.6
45	Vermont	$92,580	$3,729	98.0	$90,704	87.4
46	New Jersey	$102,630	$4,348	108.8	$90,329	87.0
47	West Virginia	$83,200	$3,075	89.5	$89,528	86.2
48	New York	$101,270	$5,028	107.9	$89,178	85.9
49	Maryland	$97,570	$4,302	105.0	$88,862	85.6
50	New Hampshire	$88,610	—	104.2	$85,067	81.9

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Louisiana, a $130,510 salary is worth about $143,520 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $3,915 (flat 3.00%) · take-home $126,595 · BEA cost of living 88.2 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $147,326, a $3,806 gain over Louisiana.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$147,326	88.6
2	Arkansas	$144,266	86.9
3	Louisiana	$143,520	88.2
4	Mississippi	$143,489	87.0
5	Iowa	$143,058	87.8
6	North Dakota	$143,040	89.0
7	Tennessee	$142,059	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$141,515	87.8
9	Wyoming	$140,801	92.7
10	Alabama	$139,586	88.8
11	Kentucky	$138,965	90.2
12	West Virginia	$138,797	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Environmental Engineers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a environmental engineers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Louisiana is the best state for a environmental engineers: a BLS median of $130,510 is worth $143,945 after the 2025 state income tax ($3,540) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.2), an index of 138.6 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Louisiana has the highest headline BLS median for a environmental engineers at $130,510, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 138.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a environmental engineers salary go least far?: New Hampshire ranks last of 50 states for a environmental engineers: a $88,610 BLS median is worth only $85,067 after tax and cost of living (index 81.9). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a environmental engineers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.