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Entry Level Wastewater Engineer information

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$40.5K

$86.4K

$142.5K

How much do entry level wastewater engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level wastewater engineer in the United States is $86,381.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,000.00 and $103,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical projects and responsibilities for an entry level wastewater engineer during their first year on the job?

As an entry level wastewater engineer, you can expect to assist with a variety of tasks such as preparing engineering reports, conducting site visits, collecting and analyzing water samples, and supporting the design of treatment systems. You’ll often work closely with senior engineers to learn about regulatory requirements, permitting processes, and best practices in system maintenance. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including environmental scientists, CAD technicians, and project managers—is common, providing valuable exposure to different aspects of project delivery. Over time, you’ll gradually take on more responsibility and may have opportunities to contribute to client meetings or help manage small projects.

How to become a water wastewater engineer?

To become a wastewater engineer, typically a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, or a related field is required. Gaining experience through internships and obtaining professional engineering licensure can enhance career prospects; knowledge of water treatment processes and relevant software tools is also beneficial.

What is the difference between Entry Level Wastewater Engineer vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectEntry Level Wastewater EngineerWater Treatment Plant Operator
CredentialsBachelor's in Environmental or Civil Engineering, Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificationHigh school diploma or equivalent, relevant state certifications or licenses
Work EnvironmentDesign, planning, and analysis in engineering offices or field sitesOperate and monitor water treatment equipment at treatment plants
Industry UsageEngineering firms, municipal wastewater departmentsMunicipal water treatment facilities, private water companies

While both roles focus on water quality, an Entry Level Wastewater Engineer primarily handles design and planning tasks, requiring an engineering degree and certification. In contrast, a Water Treatment Plant Operator manages daily operations at treatment facilities, often with a high school diploma and specialized licenses. Both roles are essential in water management but differ in responsibilities and required qualifications.

What does an entry level wastewater engineer do?

An entry level wastewater engineer assists in designing, analyzing, and maintaining wastewater treatment systems and infrastructure. Their work often involves helping senior engineers with the planning and implementation of processes that remove contaminants from water, preparing technical reports, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. They may also collect and analyze water or soil samples, conduct site inspections, and use computer-aided design (CAD) software to develop project plans. This role provides foundational experience in environmental and civil engineering while supporting the protection of public health and the environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Wastewater Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Wastewater Engineer, you need a solid background in civil or environmental engineering, typically supported by a bachelor's degree and an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification. Familiarity with AutoCAD, GIS software, hydraulic modeling tools, and regulatory compliance systems is highly valuable. Attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in this role. These abilities ensure accurate project design, regulatory adherence, and successful collaboration in delivering safe and efficient wastewater solutions.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and often in leadership roles. Entry-level wastewater engineers typically earn lower salaries, but experienced professionals with advanced certifications and project management responsibilities may approach higher six-figure incomes.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Most entry-level wastewater engineers do not earn $500,000 annually; such high salaries are typically associated with senior-level engineers, specialized consultants, or those in executive roles with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities. Compensation at this level often includes bonuses, profit sharing, or equity, and is more common in senior positions or in industries with high demand for specialized expertise.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Highly experienced engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, often with advanced certifications, extensive experience, and leadership roles. Entry-level wastewater engineers typically earn significantly less, with salaries increasing with experience and responsibility but rarely reaching that level early in their careers.
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Wastewater Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Wastewater Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Wastewater Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Wastewater Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Wastewater Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Wastewater Engineer jobs include:
Entry Level Wastewater Engineer jobs near you
Associate Water/Wastewater Engineer

Associate Water/Wastewater Engineer

Trilon

Rockford, IL

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

Are you a passionate water and wastewater engineer with a flair for designing innovative systems and analyzing treatment solutions? Fehr Graham is a fast-growing Midwest engineering and environmental firm looking for a motivated Associate Water/Wastewater Engineer to join our team. Here's the deal: we're all about shaping the future of our communities, and we need an enthusiastic engineer eager to tackle a wide range of projects. If you're hungry for knowledge, ready to make a difference, and dedicated to providing personalized attention to our clients, we want you on our team. 
Grow Your Career with Blueprint 
This role includes a guaranteed seat in Blueprint, our new early career leadership program for engineers looking to grow beyond the typical entry-level experience. Over six months, participants take part in a hands-on curriculum covering professional development, business acumen, and project delivery - including case studies, simulations, and role-play exercises. The program covers topics like project economics, communication, and leadership fundamentals, and concludes with an in-person capstone event where participants present their work and outline goals for the year ahead.  
Your Future Starts With A Plan. 
Where you'll work
The position is based in any of our 12 offices in Illinois, Iowa or Wisconsin. At Fehr Graham, we pride ourselves on delivering personalized attention and building trust with our clients. We believe in the power of skilled professionals who provide exceptional service. We also believe in work-life balance, and that includes injecting a healthy dose of fun into everything we do. It's even part of our Core Values! We celebrate milestones and enjoy friendly team-building activities and office outings after work. A happy and engaged work team is a successful one. Each of our offices brings an environment filled with positive energy and enthusiasm. We encourage our teams to connect on multiple levels and support each other's personal and professional growth.


As an Associate Water/Wastewater Engineer, you'll have the chance to unleash your potential and take on projects that expand your skills. You will: 
  • Provide water engineering design support, from water treatment plant upgrades to lead service line replacements. 
  • Provide wastewater engineering design support, from wastewater treatment plant retrofits to correcting effluent exceedances. 
  • Apply standard practices and techniques in specific situations, adjust and correlate data, and follow established procedures through detailed steps and processes. 
  • Draft reports, prepare plans, assist with specifications, and support preliminary equipment selections. 
  • Work directly with clients to gather data and share information. 
What it takes 
A bachelor's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering (or related field). This role is designed for early career engineers - 0 to 4 years of professional experience, including recent grads with relevant internship experience. Ideally, you'll also: 
  • Be a team player, working across departments to support firm goals. 
  • Speak and write well. 
  • Have strong analytical and organizational skills. 
  • Be eager to learn and grow within a structured mentorship environment. 
You'll have plenty of opportunities to grow professionally at our progressive firm, which started in 1973. Our people-first organization is focused on giving our employees the opportunity for growth. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:
  • Medical/dental/vision
  • Life insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • 401K Retirement Plan
  • Profit-sharing bonus plan
  • Paid time off
  • An awesome work environment.  
Learn more about Fehr Graham's people, culture and projects on our website. 
The base salary range for this role is indicated in the posting. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location.
We may use AI-powered tools to support administrative aspects of recruiting, including sourcing support and note-taking. These tools do not evaluate candidates or influence screening, interview, or hiring decisions. Every candidate is reviewed and assessed by human recruiters and hiring managers.
Fehr Graham provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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