Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Agriculture, Food and Natural ResourcesO*NET 19-4042.00United States
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
- Median annual earnings
- $54,635
- Projected change
- +9.1%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 37.97K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
68.2% of the workforce
Growing to 41.44K by 2035
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The work
What environmental science and protection technicians, including health do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
- Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.
- Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.
- Provide information or technical or program assistance to government representatives, employers, or the general public on the issues of public health, environmental protection, or workplace safety.
- Maintain files, such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information, or diagrams showing equipment locations.
- Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment.
- Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation.
- Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations.
- Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities.
- Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas.
- Perform statistical analysis of environmental data.
- Develop testing procedures.
- Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs.
- Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes, and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts.
- Direct activities of workers in laboratory.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $36,692
- 25th percentile
- $44,691
- 50th percentile
- $54,635
- 75th percentile
- $71,262
- 90th percentile
- $101,165
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $54,635 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+9.1%faster than average
202537,974 jobs
2035 projected41,437 jobs
3,463 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 68.2%
- Associate degree
- 22.7%
- High school diploma or less
- 4.6%
- Certificate
- 4.6%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Environmental Technicians1,098 postings
- 02Environmental Field Technicians464 postings
- 03Field Technicians440 postings
- 04Environmental Services Technicians285 postings
- 05Environmental Test Technicians132 postings
- 06Environmental Science Interns119 postings
- 07Environmental Monitoring Technicians96 postings
- 08Technicians74 postings
- 09Environmental Interns72 postings
- 10Environmental Techs72 postings
- 11LDAR Technicians71 postings
- 12Interns61 postings
- 13Test Technicians45 postings
- 14Asbestos Supervisors42 postings
- 15Engineering Technicians41 postings
- 16Environmental Services Associates40 postings
- 17Environmental Laboratory Technicians37 postings
- 18Environmental Services Workers30 postings
- 19Environmental Compliance Technicians28 postings
- 20Environmental Monitors28 postings
Top employers
- 01Actalent230 postings
- 02Montrose Environmental Group118 postings
- 03Terracon Consultants118 postings
- 04Aerotek69 postings
- 05AECOM66 postings
- 06Clean Harbors65 postings
- 07Jacobs Solutions57 postings
- 08Mercy51 postings
- 09Alliance Technical Group49 postings
- 10Eurofins49 postings
- 11GHD45 postings
- 12Pace Analytical Services44 postings
- 13SCS Engineers39 postings
- 14Bbch37 postings
- 15Tetra Tech34 postings
- 16Cherokee Nation28 postings
- 17Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania28 postings
- 18Ast Spacemobile Uk Limited27 postings
- 19Altamed Health Services25 postings
- 20Carilion Clinic25 postings
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