🌱
Environmental Consulting
AECOM, Tetra Tech, WSP
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
This job sits between fieldwork and paperwork. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians collect water, air, and soil samples, check equipment, and turn observations into compliance reports, so the work is part hands-on testing and part careful recordkeeping. The tradeoff is that the work is practical and varied, but the pay is moderate and much of the job is spent following strict procedures and documenting results.
Also known as Environmental TechnicianEnvironmental Field TechnicianEnvironmental Monitoring TechnicianEnvironmental Compliance TechnicianEnvironmental Sampling Technician
Median Salary
$58,890
Mean $63,070
U.S. Workforce
~13K
1.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.2%
12.9K to 13K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~13K workers, with a median annual pay of $58,890 and roughly 1.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 12.9 K in 2024 to 13K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental engineering technology, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Environmental Field Technician and can progress toward Environmental Program Manager. High-value skills usually include Environmental Sampling & Field Testing, Equipment Calibration, Testing & Decontamination, and Microsoft Excel, LIMS & Data Logging, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Collect water, air, or soil samples from field sites and get them ready for analysis.
- Set up, test, clean, and decontaminate meters, pumps, and other monitoring equipment.
- Keep detailed logs in notebooks or computer systems so project records stay organized and traceable.
- Work on environmental checks in the field or in the office to see whether sites meet required standards.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Collect water, air, or soil samples from field sites and get them ready for analysis.
02 Set up, test, clean, and decontaminate meters, pumps, and other monitoring equipment.
03 Keep detailed logs in notebooks or computer systems so project records stay organized and traceable.
04 Work on environmental checks in the field or in the office to see whether sites meet required standards.
05 Package samples and prepare the paperwork needed to ship them to a lab or another testing site.
06 Turn raw measurements, photos, and observations into charts, tables, sketches, and written reports.
Industries That Hire
🏗️
Engineering & Construction
Jacobs, Stantec, Burns & McDonnell
💧
Utilities & Water Services
American Water, Veolia, Xylem
🏭
Manufacturing & Industrial Compliance
3M, Dow, BASF
🏛️
Government & Public Agencies
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
You can enter the field without years of experience, and BLS lists no required work experience or on-the-job training for this role.
+
The work is hands-on and varied: one day may involve field sampling, and the next may involve equipment checks or report writing.
+
Pay is solid for an applied technical job, with a mean annual wage of $63,070 and a median of $58,890.
+
There are about 1.1 thousand annual openings, so job seekers can find a steady trickle of opportunities even though the occupation is small.
+
The role can be a stepping stone into environmental science, compliance, or engineering work if you build stronger lab, data, or reporting skills.
Challenges
-
Growth is very slow: employment is projected to rise from 12.9 thousand in 2024 to 13.0 thousand in 2034, only 1.2%.
-
The occupation is small, with just 12,500 current workers, so advancement depends more on turnover and moving up than on a fast-expanding job market.
-
Many employers favor a bachelor's degree; 67.31% of workers in the education distribution hold one, which can make it harder for associate-degree candidates to compete long term.
-
The work can involve contaminated samples, heavy gear, and outdoor conditions, so safety rules and protective equipment are part of the job rather than an exception.
-
A lot of the work is documentation and compliance checking, which can feel repetitive and standardized, and software-driven procedures may limit how much judgment is needed on routine tasks.
Career Progression
Environmental Field Technician
0-2 years
$43K-$49K
You help collect samples, prepare equipment, and learn the documentation and safety routines that keep projects on track.
Environmental Engineering Technician
2-5 years
$50K-$57K
You take on more independent field and lab work, keep cleaner records, and start handling routine compliance checks.
Environmental Engineering Technologist THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$58K-$70K
You own more complex sampling, reporting, and equipment troubleshooting, and this tier lines up with the median pay in the data.
Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist
9-14 years
$71K-$86K
You oversee tougher sites, review reports for accuracy, and help make sure projects meet environmental standards.
Environmental Program Manager
14+ years
$87K-$110K
You coordinate people, budgets, schedules, and compliance strategy rather than doing mostly field sampling yourself.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental engineering technology, or a related field
The most common education path, held by 67.31% of workers in the occupation data.
Associate's degree in environmental technology, lab science, or a similar technical program
A smaller route into the field, shown for 1.46% of workers in the education distribution.
Post-secondary certificate in environmental sampling, lab support, or hazardous materials
A practical alternative path that appears for 8.19% of workers and can help you qualify for assistant-level field or lab work.
Some college courses with field or lab experience
An alternate route seen for 6.64% of workers, usually paired with hands-on experience and employer training.
Key Skills
Technical
Environmental Sampling & Field Testing 78%
Equipment Calibration, Testing & Decontamination 76%
Microsoft Excel, LIMS & Data Logging 75%
Air, Water & Soil Monitoring Methods 74%
Chain-of-Custody Documentation & Compliance Reporting 73%
GIS Mapping & Site Sketching 71%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive LearningSpeakingJudgment and Decision-Making Job Outlook and Trends
+1.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 12.9K to 13 K over the next decade, representing 1.2% growth. Around 1.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.