What They Do: Environmental engineering technologists and technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.
Work Environment: Most environmental engineering technologists and technicians work full time. They typically work indoors, usually in laboratories, and often have regular working hours. However, they must sometimes work irregular hours in order to monitor operations.
How to Become One: Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.
Salary: The median annual wage for environmental engineering technologists and technicians is $48,390.
Job Outlook: Employment of environmental engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of environmental engineering technologists and technicians with similar occupations.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:
In laboratories, environmental engineering technologists and technicians record observations, test results, and document photographs. To keep laboratories supplied, they also may gather product information, identify vendors and suppliers, and order materials and equipment.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians help environmental engineers develop devices used to clean up environmental pollution. They also inspect facilities for compliance with the regulations that govern substances such as asbestos, lead, and wastewater.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians hold about 15,500 jobs. The largest employers of environmental engineering technologists and technicians are as follows:
| Government | 22% |
| Engineering services | 20% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 16% |
| Waste management and remediation services | 14% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians work under the direction of engineers and as part of a team with other technicians. They must be able to work well with both supervisors and peers.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically work indoors, usually in laboratories, and often have regular working hours. They also work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations.
Because environmental engineering technologists and technicians help out in environmental cleanup, they can 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 sometimes respirators, even in warm weather. When they work in wet areas, environmental engineering technologists and technicians wear heavy rubber boots to keep their legs and feet dry.
Most 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.
Get the education you need: Find schools for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians near you!
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field. Programs in environmental engineering technology generally include courses in mathematics, chemistry, hazardous-waste management, and environmental assessment, among others.
Programs can be found in vocational–technical schools and community colleges. Both types of school offer similar programs, but community colleges include more theory-based and liberal arts coursework. Some environmental engineering technologists and technicians enter the occupation with a bachelor's degree in a natural science, such as biology or chemistry.
ABET accredits engineering and engineering technology programs at the associate's level and above.
Prospective engineering technicians should take as many high school science and math courses as possible to prepare for programs in engineering technology after high school.
Communication skills. When working on teams, environmental engineering technologists and technicians must listen well and report back to their group or team leader.
Critical-thinking skills. Environmental engineers rely on environmental engineering technologists and technicians to help identify problems and solutions and to implement the engineers' plans. To do these tasks, technicians must be able to think critically and logically.
Observational skills. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians are the eyes and ears of environmental engineers and must assume responsibility for properly evaluating situations onsite. These technicians must recognize problems so that the environmental engineers are informed as quickly as possible.
Problem-solving skills. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians implement plans designed by engineers. They often operate and maintain complex machinery. They must devise solutions to problems, such as mechanical breakdowns or unexpected findings at a worksite.
Reading skills. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians must be able to read and understand legal and technical documents in order to ensure that regulatory requirements are being met.
Some environmental technician positions require training on working with hazardous materials in accordance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians usually begin work as trainees in entry-level positions supervised by an environmental engineer or a more experienced technician. As they gain experience, technicians take on more responsibility and carry out assignments under general supervision. Some eventually enter positions as senior environmental technicians or lead environmental technicians, who function as supervisors when onsite.
Technicians with a bachelor's degree often are able to advance to become environmental engineers.
The median annual wage for environmental engineering technologists and technicians is $48,390. 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 $35,870, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $84,740.
The median annual wages for environmental engineering technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Manufacturing | $61,260 |
| Government | $60,520 |
| Engineering services | $57,800 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | $47,690 |
| Waste management and remediation services | $37,700 |
Most 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.
Employment of environmental engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 1,600 openings for environmental engineering technologists and technicians 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 in this occupation is typically tied to projects created by environmental engineers. State and local governments are expected to focus their efforts and resources on efficient water use, storm water management, and wastewater treatment over the next decade. The demand for more environmental technologists and technicians by consulting firms will arise as governments and larger firms look to reduce costs.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Environmental engineering technologists and technicians | 15,500 | 16,100 | 4 | 600 |
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U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.