While some readers appreciate the money, many others find satisfaction in less tangible rewards. Moreover, 88.6 percent listened to their parents and graduated from college, with more than 30 percent earning an advanced degree. It's a good thing, too. Manufacturing employees stay pretty close to the mean when it comes to education, experience and salary. Earning below the mean tend to be those who chose industrial engineering, biology or electrical engineering as their field of study.
Pollution control is a high priority.
Whether environmental professionals have convinced hard-boiled business executives of their competitive worth is difficult to say. But past surveys show salaries steadily climbing each year, and in the last two years, wages have risen faster than the rate of inflation. This year's 4.7 percent mean wage increase over 1997 is more than twice the rate of inflation and compares favorably with U.S. Labor Department figures showing a 3.1 percent gain for all manufacturing jobs and a 3.7 percent increase across all industries. At the very least, this relative prosperity presumes an environmental workforce that is more productive and able to rise to the challenge of rapid changes in technology. For 40.5 percent of respondents, regulations are the major factor influencing changes in pollution prevention and control at their companies.