### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			environmental engineering technicians imageEnvironmental engineering technologists and technicians conduct pollution surveys, for which they collect and analyze samples such as air and ground water.							
						Quick Facts:     Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$54,000     per year
										$25.96     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    13,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    1% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    200What Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians implement the plans that environmental engineers develop.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most environmental engineering technologists and technicians work full time. They may work both indoors and outside and often have regular working hours.
            
                                                How to Become an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician
                                                
                        
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for environmental engineering technologists and technicians was $54,000 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of environmental engineering technologists and technicians is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 1,300 openings for environmental engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for environmental engineering technologists and technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of environmental engineering technologists and technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about environmental engineering technologists and technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do 
            

			Environmental engineering techniciansEnvironmental engineering technologists and technicians collect water samples.			
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.
Duties
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:
Set up, test, operate, and modify equipment used to prevent or clean up environmental pollution
Maintain project records and computer program files
Collect and analyze samples, such as of ground water, for monitoring pollution or treatment
Review documents to ensure that they are complete and conform to reporting requirements
Review work plans to schedule activities
Arrange for the disposal of asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materialsEnvironmental engineering technologists and technicians work both indoors and outdoors help to ensure environmental quality. Their tasks aid environmental engineers in developing solutions to control, prevent, and mitigate damage caused by pollution and other environmental problems.
In laboratories, environmental engineering technologists and technicians record observations and test results and document photographs. To keep laboratories supplied, they also may gather product information, identify vendors and suppliers, and order materials and equipment.
In the field, environmental engineering technologists and technicians may collect air, soil, or ground and surface water samples of an area. They also prepare and clean equipment, operate field sampling pumps, and monitor instruments.
They also may inspect facilities for compliance with regulations governing substances such as asbestos, lead, and wastewater.
 Work Environment
			Environmental engineering techniciansEnvironmental engineering technologists and technicians must wear protective gear when they are working outdoors on environmental remediation.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Environmental engineering technologists and technicians held about 13,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of environmental engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:
        Engineering services
                30%Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                17Government
                15Waste management and remediation services
                10Manufacturing
                7Environmental engineering technologists and technicians work under the direction of environmental engineers and as part of a team with other technicians. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians may work indoors, often in laboratories. They also work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations.
Because environmental engineering technologists and technicians help with environmental cleanup, they may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials. For this reason, they must follow proper safety procedures, such as wearing hazmat suits and respirators as needed. When they work in wet areas, environmental engineering technologists and technicians wear rubber boots to keep their legs and feet dry.
Work Schedules
Most environmental engineering technologists and technicians work full time and typically have regular hours. However, they may work irregular hours in order to monitor operations or contain a major environmental threat.
 How to Become an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician

			Environmental engineering techniciansEnvironmental engineering technologists and technicians perform indoor and outdoor environmental quality work.			
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.
Education
Prospective environmental engineering technologists and technicians should take science and math courses in high school to prepare for postsecondary programs in engineering technology.
Employers usually prefer to hire candidates who have completed ABET-accredited postsecondary programs. Although some candidates may be hired with a high school diploma and postsecondary coursework, environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field to enter the occupation.
Associate degree programs in environmental engineering technology are available in community colleges and vocational–technical schools. These programs generally include courses in chemistry, environmental assessment, hazardous-waste management, and mathematics. Some environmental engineering technologists and technicians enter the occupation with a bachelor’s degree.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some states require environmental technologists and technicians to have permits or licenses to remove hazardous waste. Workers also may be required to have Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) certification. HAZWOPER certification includes training in health hazards, personal protective equipment, site safety, recognizing and identifying hazards, and decontamination. Refresher training may be required to maintain certification.
Advancement
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians usually begin work as trainees in entry-level positions and are supervised by an environmental engineer or experienced technician. As they gain experience, technologists and technicians take on more responsibility. Some advance to become senior environmental technologists and technicians or lead environmental technologists and technicians, functioning as supervisors onsite.
Technicians with a bachelor’s degree may advance to become environmental engineers.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***When working on teams, environmental engineering technologists and technicians must listen attentively and convey information to others.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Environmental engineers rely on technologists and technicians to help identify problems and solutions and to implement the engineers’ plans.
***Observational skills.*** Environmental engineering technologists and technicians must be able to evaluate situations, recognize problems, and inform environmental engineers as quickly as possible.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Environmental engineering technologists and technicians implement plans designed by environmental engineers. They must be able to resolve issues that arise, such as unexpected findings during fieldwork.
***Reading skills.*** Environmental engineering technologists and technicians must be able to understand legal and technical documents in order to ensure that regulations are being met.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians$63,100  Environmental engineering technologists and technicians$54,000  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for environmental engineering technologists and technicians was $54,000 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,150, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $84,640.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for environmental engineering technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Manufacturing
                $64,260Engineering services
                56,160Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                53,000Government
                52,420Waste management and remediation services
                47,800Most environmental engineering technologists and technicians work full time and typically have regular hours. However, they must sometimes work irregular hours in order to monitor operations or contain a major environmental threat.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Environmental engineering technologists and technicians1%  Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of environmental engineering technologists and technicians is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 1,300 openings for environmental engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment in this occupation is typically tied to projects created by environmental engineers. Some demand for environmental engineering technologists and technicians is expected over the decade as increasing concerns about pollution lead to water- and air-quality improvement efforts. However, employment growth may be limited as automated environmental testing increases productivity for these workers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     environmental engineering technologists and technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Environmental engineering technologists and technicians**
			17-3025
			13,900
			14,100
			1
			200
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of environmental engineering technologists and technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Environmental Engineers**
            Environmental engineers use engineering disciplines in developing solutions to problems of planetary health.
            Bachelor's degree
            $100,090**Environmental Science and Protection Technicians**
            Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health.
            Associate's degree
            $50,660**Environmental Scientists and Specialists**
            Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health.
            Bachelor's degree
            $78,980**Hazardous Materials Removal Workers**
            Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $47,280
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about accredited programs, visit
ABET
For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit
Technology Student Association
For information about OSHA certification, visit
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineering-technicians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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