Entry-level Environmental Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Menlo Park, Fremont.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $88,816 |
| 25th | $93,071 |
| 50th (median) | $96,000 |
| 75th | $111,950 |
| 90th | $118,102 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median entry-level Environmental Engineer salary of $96,000 is worth about $83,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Environmental Engineers in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $138,840 in May 2025 (550 employed). The H-1B median here is $96,000, 31% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| University of California, Berkeley | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $96,000 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $118,340 | 14 |
| Senior · Level III | $152,965 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $93,142 | $96,000 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,608 | $118,340 | 14 |
| Senior · Level III | $142,210 | $152,965 | 10 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.