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Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Career Profile
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.
The Daily Work of Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do?
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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful environmental engineering technologists and technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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)
Employment and Demand
There are about 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.
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Pay
| 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 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay 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 vary by region. 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 largest employers of environmental engineering technologists and technicians work in 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 is shaped by 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. The role falls 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)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for environmental engineering technologists and technicians often complete programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
4 programs across 2 majors
References
This profile draws on 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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