Engineering and architecture
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
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,100
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to environmental engineering technologists and technicians
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians: 47% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
- Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
- Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
- Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
- Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
Also called: Air Quality Instrument Specialist · EHS Engineer (Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer) · Engineer · Environmental Engineering Assistant · Environmental Engineering Technician (Environmental Engineering Tech) · Environmental Field Technician (Environmental Field Tech) · Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech) · Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician)
Outlook and AI
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians held 12,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 12,900 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as automation of environmental testing increases.
Compare with
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Environmental engineer
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Compliance officer
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Civil engineer
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Industrial engineer
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians
- Environmental engineering technologists and technicians vs. Chemical engineer