Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Job Description
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.
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What Do Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of environmental engineering technologists and technicians span:
- Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
- Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
- Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
- Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
- Maintain process parameters and evaluate process anomalies.
What Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Need to Know
Effective environmental engineering technologists and technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Air Analysis Engineering Technician
- Air Analysis Technician
- Air Analyst
- Air Moving Technician
- Air Pollution Specialist
- Air Quality Instrument Specialist
- Air Technician
- Aquatic Technician (Aquatic Tech)
Job Outlook
There are roughly 136,619 environmental engineering technologists and technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -1.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $77,085 |
| Hourly median | $37.06 |
| 10th percentile | $48,669 |
| 25th percentile | $62,877 |
| 75th percentile | $91,293 |
| 90th percentile | $105,501 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $97,020 |
| Oregon | $80,390 |
| New Mexico | $77,460 |
| Nevada | $77,410 |
| Delaware | $76,510 |
| Alaska | $75,670 |
| California | $72,140 |
| Tennessee | $71,210 |
| Georgia | $68,750 |
| Alabama | $67,030 |
| Maryland | $64,310 |
| Wyoming | $63,380 |
| Massachusetts | $63,270 |
| Maine | $62,570 |
| Arizona | $62,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,320 |
| Oklahoma | $60,090 |
| New York | $60,010 |
| Wisconsin | $59,880 |
| Colorado | $59,580 |
| New Jersey | $59,260 |
| South Carolina | $58,990 |
| Kentucky | $58,860 |
| Missouri | $58,720 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,440 |
| Minnesota | $58,430 |
| Montana | $57,200 |
| Texas | $56,930 |
| Iowa | $56,810 |
| Connecticut | $55,800 |
| West Virginia | $54,760 |
| Hawaii | $53,450 |
| Ohio | $52,310 |
| North Carolina | $51,180 |
| Virginia | $50,930 |
| Idaho | $50,840 |
| Utah | $50,100 |
| Illinois | $50,080 |
| South Dakota | $49,690 |
| Kansas | $48,870 |
| Michigan | $48,500 |
| Indiana | $47,620 |
| Mississippi | $46,350 |
| New Hampshire | $43,860 |
| Arkansas | $43,680 |
| Florida | $43,110 |
| Louisiana | $42,820 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for environmental engineering technologists and technicians differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $77,248 | 16.3% | 0.84 |
| New England | $61,656 | 3.3% | 0.77 |
| Middle Atlantic | $60,791 | 18.1% | 1.17 |
| Southwest | $59,965 | 16.0% | 1.54 |
| Southeast | $59,675 | 29.0% | 1.74 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $58,440 | 1.0% | 1.30 |
| Rocky Mountains | $55,419 | 2.1% | 1.41 |
| Plains States | $54,895 | 2.7% | 0.65 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $107,940 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $98,110 | 190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $97,240 | 180 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $89,610 | 40 |
| Knoxville, TN | TN | $88,990 | 320 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $84,800 | 50 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $78,360 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $75,250 | 230 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of environmental engineering technologists and technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7,600 | $56,360 |
| Manufacturing | 990 | $78,540 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 960 | $55,460 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 200 | $75,520 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 180 | $75,670 |
| Construction | 120 | $45,960 |
| Educational Services | 80 | $61,780 |
| Utilities | 70 | $87,550 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Python (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for environmental engineering technologists and technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Getting Started in This Career
Typical environmental engineering technologists and technicians positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Chemical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for environmental engineering technologists and technicians often complete programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
4 programs across 2 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3025.00 (Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians).
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