Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
- Median pay
- $59,920
- Doing it now
- 12,500
- By 2035
- Up 3.1%
- Usually needs
- Associate's degree
a year
across the country
1,100 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
- Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.
- Review work plans to schedule activities.
- Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
- Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Environmental Control Technologies/TechniciansSee 17 colleges that teach it
- Quality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansSee 31 colleges that teach it
- Pharmacology and ToxicologySee 25 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Hands-on and practical
Analytical and curious
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$55,090
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,120
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$130,220
- Electrical Engineers$120,630
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
- Mechanical Engineers$104,110
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $59,920 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.