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What does a Environmental Engineers salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Environmental Engineers earning $125,460 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $114,262 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $80,660 | $73,460 | $-7,199 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $100,200 | $91,256 | $-8,943 |
| Median (P50) | $125,460 | $114,262 | $-11,197 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $161,250 | $146,857 | $-14,392 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $175,610 | $159,936 | $-15,673 |
While $125,460 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $114,262. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Washington's RPP of 109.8 puts it 9.8% above the national baseline cost of living. A Environmental Engineers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Washington's RPP, the $125,460 median salary translates to $114,262 in real terms — a 8.9% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Environmental Engineers.
Washington sits at #14 of 50 states for Environmental Engineers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Environmental Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #14 out of 50 states for Environmental Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Environmental Engineers take-home pay in Washington after taxes →
A Environmental Engineers in Washington earns a median salary of $125,460 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $114,262 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Environmental Engineers in Washington: $125,460 x (100 / 109.8) = $114,262. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Environmental Engineers's nominal salary of $125,460 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $114,262. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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