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

Environmental Engineers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			environmental engineers imageEnvironmental engineers obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures for environmental projects.							
						Quick Facts:     Environmental Engineers2023     Median Pay
            						$100,090     per year
										$48.12     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    47,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,900What Environmental Engineers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Environmental engineers use engineering disciplines in developing solutions to problems of planetary health.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Environmental engineers work both in an office setting and in the field. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
            
                                                How to Become an Environmental Engineer
                                                
                        
Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have gained practical experience in an internship or a cooperative education program.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for environmental engineers was $100,090 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of environmental engineers is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,400 openings for environmental engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many 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 engineers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of environmental engineers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about environmental engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Environmental Engineers Do 
            

			Environmental engineersEnvironmental engineers design systems for managing and cleaning municipal water supplies.			
Environmental engineers use engineering disciplines in developing solutions to problems of planetary health. Their work may involve concerns such as waste treatment, site remediation, and pollution control technology.
Duties
Environmental engineers typically do the following:
Prepare, review, update, and present reports on issues related to the environment
Design systems that protect the environment, such as those to reclaim water or to control air pollution
Obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures
Provide technical support for environmental remediation projects and for legal actions
Analyze scientific data and do quality-control checks
Monitor the progress of environmental improvement programs
Inspect industrial and municipal facilities and programs to ensure compliance with environmental regulations
Advise corporations, government agencies, and other interested parties about environmental issues, including procedures for cleaning up contaminated sitesEnvironmental engineers work on a variety of projects. For example, they may conduct hazardous-waste management studies in which they evaluate a hazard and advise on treating and containing it. They also design systems for municipal and industrial water supplies and wastewater treatment. In government, they may focus on prevention and compliance, such as researching the environmental impact of proposed construction projects or enforcing regulations for disposal of agricultural waste.
Some of these engineers study ways to minimize the effects of environmental threats such as acid rain, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion. They also collaborate with workers who focus on environmental sustainability and other issues, including environmental scientists and specialists, hazardous materials removal workers, lawyers, and urban and regional planners.
 Work Environment
			Environmental engineersEnvironmental engineers work with other engineers and with urban and regional planners.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Environmental engineers held about 47,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of environmental engineers were as follows:
        Engineering services
                28%Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                20State government, excluding education and hospitals
                13Federal government, excluding postal service
                6Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                6Environmental engineers may work both indoors, such as in an office setting, and outdoors, such as at a construction site. They sometimes travel to attend meetings or present research.
Work Schedules
Most environmental engineers work full time. They may need to work more than 40 hours per week, such as to monitor a project’s progress or to troubleshoot problems.
 How to Become an Environmental Engineer

			Environmental engineersA bachelor’s degree is needed to become an environmental engineer.			
Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as chemical, civil, or general engineering. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have gained practical experience in an internship or cooperative education program.
Education
High school students interested in becoming an environmental engineer should take classes in chemistry, biology, physics, and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.
Entry-level environmental engineering jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Programs usually include courses in subjects such as construction systems, engineering mechanics, and geochemistry and involve academic instruction, laboratory study, and fieldwork.
Some college and university programs offer cooperative education in which students gain practical experience while completing their studies. Students also may get relevant experience through internships or by volunteering in positions that focus on the environment.
Bachelor’s degree programs usually take 4 years, but some colleges and universities have 5-year engineering programs that lead to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Employers often prefer to hire graduates of ABET-accredited engineering programs. A degree from an accredited program is usually necessary for engineers to become licensed.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Licensure is not required for entry-level environmental engineers.
Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.
State licensure generally requires a bachelor’s or higher degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.
Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states if the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require engineers to take continuing education to keep their licenses.
After licensing, environmental engineers can earn board certification from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. This certification shows that an environmental engineer has expertise in one or more areas of specialization.
Some states require environmentalengineersto haveOccupational 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
As engineers gain knowledge and experience, they take on more difficult projects and have greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions.
Some environmental engineers advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a team of engineers and technicians. Others become engineering managers or project management specialists to direct and coordinate the activities of specific projects.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Environmental engineers must explain plans, specifications, findings, and other information both orally and in writing to technical and nontechnical audiences.
***Creativity.*** Environmental engineers must be able to design systems that interact with the machinery and equipment components of a larger system.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Environmental engineers coordinate with a variety of workers, such as the engineers and scientists who design systems and the technicians and mechanics who put systems into practice.
***Math skills.*** Environmental engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other math in their analysis, design, and troubleshooting work.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Environmental engineers must identify and anticipate problems to design systems that prevent or mitigate environmental damage.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Environmental EngineersMedian annual wages, May 2023Engineers$102,660  Environmental engineers$100,090  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 engineers was $100,090 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 $63,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $156,530.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for environmental engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $116,080Engineering services
                101,070Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                98,350State government, excluding education and hospitals
                91,870Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                83,320Most environmental engineers work full time. They may need to work more than 40 hours per week, such as to monitor a project’s progress or to troubleshoot problems.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Environmental EngineersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Engineers7%  Environmental engineers6%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of environmental engineers is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,400 openings for environmental engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many 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
	
			
Heightened public awareness of the hazards facing the environment is expected to support demand for environmental engineers. For example, these workers are expected to be needed to help design solutions to improve water and air quality amid growing concerns about pollution and the lack of access to clean drinking water across the country.
			

                        Employment projections data for     environmental engineers, 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 engineers**
			17-2081
			47,300
			50,200
			6
			2,900
			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 engineers **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 engineers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Chemical Engineers**
            Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents, and paper.
            Bachelor's degree
            $112,100**Civil Engineers**
            Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $95,890**Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians**
            Environmental engineering technologists and technicians implement the plans that environmental engineers develop.
            Associate's degree
            $54,000**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**Hydrologists**
            Hydrologists study how water moves across and through the Earth’s crust.
            Bachelor's degree
            $88,770**Natural Sciences Managers**
            Natural sciences managers plan, supervise, or coordinate research and other activities in fields such as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and statistics.
            Bachelor's degree
            $157,740**Project Management Specialists**
            Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project.
            Bachelor's degree
            $98,580
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about environmental engineers, visit
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)
For more information about education for engineers, visit
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit
ABET
For more information about becoming licensed as a professional engineer, visit
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
CareerOneStop
For a career video on environmental engineers, visit
Environmental Engineers

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


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