Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 15,500 people employed as environmental engineering technologists and technicians in the United States. The median annual salary is $48,390. Entry level employees earn approximately $35,870 per year and senior employees earn approximately $84,740 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
• Prepare permit applications or review compliance with environmental permits.
• Review work plans to schedule activities.
• Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
• Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
• Develop work plans, including writing specifications or establishing material, manpower, or facilities needs.
• Perform statistical analysis and correction of air or water pollution data submitted by industry or other agencies.
• Arrange for the disposal of lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials.
• Evaluate and select technologies to clean up polluted sites, restore polluted air, water, or soil, or rehabilitate degraded ecosystems.
• Oversee support staff.
• Create models to demonstrate or predict the process by which pollutants move through or impact an environment.
• Improve chemical processes to reduce toxic emissions.
• Obtain product information, identify vendors or suppliers, or order materials or equipment to maintain inventory.
• 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.
• Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.
• 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.
• Assess the ability of environments to naturally remove or reduce conventional or emerging contaminants from air, water, or soil.
• Work with customers to assess the environmental impact of proposed construction or to develop pollution prevention programs.
• Provide technical engineering support in the planning of projects, such as wastewater treatment plants, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and policies.
• Model biological, chemical, or physical treatment processes to remove or degrade pollutants.

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