Career Overview
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Also Known As
- Environmental Health Officer (EHO)
- Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech)
- Sanitarian
- Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician)
Alternate Job Titles
- Air Analyst
- Air Pollution Auditor
- Air Quality Technician (Air Quality Tech)
- Analytical Lab Tech (Analytical Laboratory Technician)
- Asbestos Abatement Technician (Asbestos Abatement Tech)
- Asbestos Microscopist
- Biological Lab Tech (Biological Laboratory Technician)
- Biotechnician
- Certified Indoor Environmentalist
- Chemical Lab Tech (Chemical Laboratory Technician)
- Compliance Technician (Compliance Tech)
- Decontamination Technician (Decontamination Tech)
- Emergency Spill Response Technician (Emergency Spill Response Tech)
- Energy and Conservation Technician (Energy and Conservation Tech)
- Environmental Analyst
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
- Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
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:
- Achievement
- Support
- Relationships
- Recognition
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
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
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- 35 millimeter cameras
- Air current test kits
- Air monitoring equipment
- Air sampling impingers
- Air sampling primary flow calibrators
- Area sampling pumps
- Autoclaves
- Binocular light compound microscopes
- Bioaerosol impactors
- Bladder water sampling pumps
- Carbon monoxide monitors
- Carpet sampling pump kits
- Centrifugal water sampling pumps
- Centrifuges
- Chloride test kits
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $36,130 |
| Median | $49,490 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $85,630 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 39,390
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $58,890
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
Environmental Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $104,170
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.