Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Air Quality Instrument Specialist
- Environmental Field Technician
- Environmental Technician
- Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician)
Alternate Job Titles
- 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)
- Emissions Technician (Emissions Tech)
- Engineer Technician
- Engineering Technician
- Environmental Engineering Aide
- Environmental Engineering Assistant
- Environmental Engineering Technician
- Environmental Engineering Technologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Speech Clarity
- Category Flexibility
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Independence
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Bentley MicroStation
- C++
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Tools & Equipment
- 13C nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers
- Aeration pumps
- Aerobic laboratory scale reactors
- Air monitoring equipment
- Air velocity meters
- Airborne particulate samplers
- Anaerobic laboratory glove bags
- Anaerobic laboratory scale reactors
- Analytical balances
- Anemometers
- Argon lasers
- Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
- Atomic force microscopes
- Autoclaves
- Autotitration systems
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $39,670 |
| Median | $58,890 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $92,280 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 12,500
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $49,490
Environmental Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $104,170
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Environmental Compliance Inspectors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $78,420
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,260
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.