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Environmental Consulting
AECOM, Tetra Tech, Jacobs
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
These technicians test air, water, soil, and industrial waste to spot pollution problems, measure contamination, and check whether a site meets environmental rules. The work is hands-on and detail-heavy: one day may be spent collecting samples in the field, and the next is spent calibrating instruments and documenting compliance results. The tradeoff is that the job is practical and steady, but the pay is only moderate and much of the work is repetitive recordkeeping.
Also known as Environmental TechnicianEnvironmental Field TechnicianEnvironmental Monitoring TechnicianEnvironmental Protection TechnicianEnvironmental Science Technician
Median Salary
$49,490
Mean $56,770
U.S. Workforce
~39K
5.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4%
40.4K to 42.1K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health 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 ~39K workers, with a median annual pay of $49,490 and roughly 5.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 40.4 K in 2024 to 42.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Environmental Technician Assistant and can progress toward Environmental Program Manager. High-value skills usually include Environmental Sampling & Field Testing, Regulatory Reporting & Compliance Documentation, and Laboratory Instrument Calibration, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Check how changes in a plant, process, or facility could affect the environment, and suggest ways to reduce the damage.
- Collect air, soil, water, wastewater, or asbestos samples and prepare them for testing.
- Use lab tools and formulas to measure how much pollution is in a sample or how gases are moving through an industrial system.
- Set up, calibrate, and verify microscopes and other test equipment before running environmental checks.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check how changes in a plant, process, or facility could affect the environment, and suggest ways to reduce the damage.
02 Collect air, soil, water, wastewater, or asbestos samples and prepare them for testing.
03 Use lab tools and formulas to measure how much pollution is in a sample or how gases are moving through an industrial system.
04 Set up, calibrate, and verify microscopes and other test equipment before running environmental checks.
05 Build or update monitoring programs for pollution, radiation, recycling, or hazardous-waste handling.
06 Keep records of test results, organize work schedules, and help direct other lab workers when needed.
Industries That Hire
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Government & Public Agencies
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service
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Manufacturing & Chemicals
3M, Dow, DuPont
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Utilities & Energy
Duke Energy, Exelon, Dominion Energy
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Waste Management & Recycling
Waste Management, Republic Services, Veolia
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without years of prior experience; BLS lists no work experience and no on-the-job training as the usual entry requirements.
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The pay is solid for a technician job, with a median salary of $49,490 and a mean of $56,770.
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There are about 5.6 thousand annual openings, so hiring is not limited to brand-new job growth.
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The work is concrete and varied, mixing field sampling, lab testing, compliance checks, and program setup instead of pure desk work.
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The skills transfer to several industries, including consulting, utilities, manufacturing, recycling, and public agencies.
Challenges
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Growth is only 4.0% from 2024 to 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The pay ceiling is modest compared with many science careers, and even the mean salary is only $56,770.
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A lot of the job is paperwork, scheduling, and recordkeeping, which can feel repetitive after the first few years.
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Some assignments involve wastewater, asbestos, waste streams, or outdoor fieldwork, so the conditions can be dirty or uncomfortable.
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Even though an associate's degree can open the door, the education mix skews heavily toward bachelor's degrees at 68.18%, which can create a credential ceiling for advancement.
Career Progression
Environmental Technician Assistant
0-2 years
$37K-$46K
Entry-level workers help collect samples, label materials, and keep the lab or field site organized while learning the rules and routines.
Environmental Science and Protection Technician
2-5 years
$46K-$56K
Technicians handle routine sampling, testing, and compliance checks more independently and spend a lot of time documenting results.
Senior Environmental Technician THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$57K-$72K
More experienced technicians troubleshoot instruments, check the quality of results, and help train newer staff.
Environmental Compliance Specialist
9-15 years
$73K-$90K
At this stage, the work shifts toward reviewing regulations, solving tougher site problems, and coordinating with supervisors, clients, or regulators.
Environmental Program Manager
15+ years
$91K-$120K
Senior professionals oversee monitoring programs, budgets, and reporting across multiple sites or facilities.
Education Paths
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science or a related field
The most common path, held by 68.18% of workers in this role.
Associate's Degree in Environmental Technology, Lab Technology, or a related field
A common entry route, held by 22.73% of workers in this role and also listed by BLS as the typical entry level.
Post-Secondary Certificate in Environmental or Laboratory Technology
A smaller pathway, used by 4.55% of workers in this role, especially when paired with strong field or lab experience.
High School Diploma plus field or lab experience
A rare path, used by 4.55% of workers in this role, but it is less common than postsecondary options and can be harder to use for advancement.
Key Skills
Technical
Environmental Sampling & Field Testing 80%
Regulatory Reporting & Compliance Documentation 78%
Laboratory Instrument Calibration 75%
Air, Water & Soil Analysis Procedures 72%
EPA Standards, Permits & Hazardous Waste Rules 68%
Excel, LIMS & Environmental Data Logging 65%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem Solving Job Outlook and Trends
+4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 40.4K to 42.1 K over the next decade, representing 4% growth. Around 5.6 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.