Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health: Career Profile
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
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What Do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of environmental scientists and specialists, including health span:
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
- Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top environmental scientists and specialists, including health combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Air Analyst
- Ecological Modeler
- Environmental Analyst
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Designer
- Environmental Health Specialist
- Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS Specialist)
- Environmental Permitting Specialist
How Many Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Are There?
There are about 65,098 environmental scientists and specialists, including health working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +3.6% over the projection horizon.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $90,139 |
| Hourly median | $43.34 |
| 10th percentile | $61,346 |
| 25th percentile | $75,743 |
| 75th percentile | $104,536 |
| 90th percentile | $118,933 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $122,440 |
| California | $97,520 |
| Massachusetts | $96,330 |
| Oregon | $93,560 |
| Rhode Island | $90,460 |
| Illinois | $89,010 |
| Washington | $88,670 |
| Minnesota | $87,210 |
| Alaska | $87,060 |
| Colorado | $86,720 |
| Maryland | $82,100 |
| Georgia | $82,030 |
| Utah | $81,480 |
| Connecticut | $81,370 |
| North Dakota | $81,260 |
| Ohio | $80,640 |
| Nevada | $80,480 |
| New York | $80,240 |
| New Jersey | $79,920 |
| New Mexico | $79,250 |
| New Hampshire | $79,230 |
| Arizona | $78,870 |
| Texas | $78,560 |
| Montana | $78,510 |
| Virginia | $78,140 |
| West Virginia | $77,980 |
| Indiana | $77,380 |
| Tennessee | $76,900 |
| Michigan | $76,670 |
| Arkansas | $75,620 |
| Hawaii | $75,050 |
| Alabama | $74,660 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 |
| Iowa | $74,060 |
| Kansas | $73,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,040 |
| South Dakota | $71,510 |
| Vermont | $69,330 |
| Kentucky | $68,990 |
| Wisconsin | $68,980 |
| Oklahoma | $67,530 |
| Louisiana | $67,260 |
| Missouri | $67,190 |
| Idaho | $66,710 |
| South Carolina | $65,960 |
| North Carolina | $65,800 |
| Delaware | $62,780 |
| Guam | $62,170 |
| Nebraska | $61,260 |
| Maine | $60,880 |
| Florida | $59,510 |
| Virgin Islands | $56,400 |
| Mississippi | $55,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,250 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for environmental scientists and specialists, including health shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $93,938 | 24.2% | 1.59 |
| New England | $87,163 | 6.2% | 1.41 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,442 | 14.8% | 1.29 |
| Rocky Mountains | $81,100 | 5.9% | 1.58 |
| Great Lakes | $78,970 | 10.1% | 0.80 |
| Southwest | $78,042 | 8.5% | 0.92 |
| Plains States | $77,498 | 5.5% | 0.91 |
| Southeast | $68,239 | 24.1% | 1.11 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $110,240 | 1,630 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $109,520 | 2,780 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $108,310 | 330 |
| Monroe, MI | MI | $107,990 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $102,420 | 3,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $101,540 | 2,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $99,750 | 450 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $99,280 | 210 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of environmental scientists and specialists, including health are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32,170 | $77,920 |
| Educational Services | 2,640 | $82,360 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2,610 | $74,910 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,910 | $101,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,690 | $74,670 |
| Manufacturing | 1,220 | $107,990 |
| Utilities | 1,160 | $108,480 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 690 | $73,180 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (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)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (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)
Work Environment
The work environment for environmental scientists and specialists, including health is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Sitting
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including health positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Water Resource Specialists (Supplemental)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Primary-Short)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Supplemental)
- Conservation Scientists (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for environmental scientists and specialists, including health commonly pursue programs in:
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
4 programs across 4 majors
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
3 programs across 1 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Physical 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: 19-2041.00 (Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health).
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