Architecture and Engineering · Holland code RIC
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
Also called: Environmental Engineering Assistant, Environmental Engineering Technician (Environmental Engineering Tech), Environmental Field Technician (Environmental Field Tech), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Air Quality Instrument Specialist, EHS Engineer (Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer), Engineer, Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician).
O*NET 17-3025.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $59,920
- Middle half earn $48,200 to $75,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree
- 67% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
- US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034
- +1% · Slower than average
- 12,900 jobs in 2024, projected 13,000. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Environmental engineering technologists and technicians".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
- Review technical documents to ensure completeness and conformance to requirements.
- Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Prepare permit applications or review compliance with environmental permits.
- Oversee support staff.
- Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
- Arrange for the disposal of lead, asbestos, or other hazardous materials.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9 / 5
- Active Listening3.9 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.9 / 5
- Active Learning3.8 / 5
- Speaking3.4 / 5
- Science3.4 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology3.7 / 5
- Mathematics3.6 / 5
- Customer and Personal Service3.5 / 5
- English Language3.4 / 5
- Chemistry3.4 / 5
- Mechanical3.2 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic88
- Investigative82
- Artistic12
- Social8
- Enterprising5
- Conventional63
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- environmental engineer · DE Umweltingenieur/Umweltingenieurin · FR ingénieur génie de l’environnement/ingénieure génie de l’environnement
- environmental technician · DE Umweltschutztechniker/Umweltschutztechnikerin · FR technicien de l’environnement/technicienne de l’environnement
- water conservation technician · DE Abwasserrecyclingfachkraft · FR technicien en conservation de l’eau/technicienne en conservation de l’eau
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Pipe fitters (5214)3,700 employed
- Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers (5315)153,700 employed
- Quality assurance technicians (3115)36,100 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €61,714 |
| Germany | €59,529 |
| Ireland | €56,877 |
| Austria | €55,374 |
| Netherlands | €53,595 |
| Sweden | €43,567 |
| France | €41,515 |
| Spain | €35,735 |
| Italy | €33,649 |
| Portugal | €26,072 |
| Poland | €14,380 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the middle third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of +0.04. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (17-3025).
Related careers
Is it a fit for you?
Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.
Take the career interests test