Life, Physical, and Social Science · Holland code RIC
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Also called: Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Sanitarian, Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician), Industrial Pretreatment Program Specialist (IPP Specialist), Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Public Health Sanitarian, Sanitarian Specialist.
O*NET 19-4042.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $55,090
- Middle half earn $45,820 to $69,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree
- 68% 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
- +4% · As fast as average
- 40,400 jobs in 2024, projected 42,100. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Environmental science and protection technicians".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
- Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations.
- Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0 / 5
- Active Listening3.9 / 5
- Writing3.9 / 5
- Speaking3.9 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
- Science3.4 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.6 / 5
- Chemistry3.5 / 5
- English Language3.5 / 5
- Biology3.4 / 5
- Law and Government3.4 / 5
- Computers and Electronics3.4 / 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.
- Realistic81
- Investigative77
- Artistic4
- Social16
- Enterprising6
- Conventional65
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 protection manager · DE Umweltschutzmanager/Umweltschutzmanagerin · FR directeur de la protection de l'environnement/directrice de la protection de l'environnement
- environmental programme coordinator · DE Programmkoordinator Umwelt/Programmkoordinatorin Umwelt · FR coordonnateur de programmes environnementaux/coordonnatrice de programmes environnementaux
- environmental scientist · DE Umweltwissenschaftler/Umweltwissenschaftlerin · FR chargé d’études environnement/chargée d’études environnement
- environmental engineer · DE Umweltingenieur/Umweltingenieurin · FR ingénieur génie de l’environnement/ingénieure génie de l’environnement
- environmental expert · DE Umweltexperte/Umweltexpertin · FR ingénieur environnement/ingénieure environnement
- environmental technician · DE Umweltschutztechniker/Umweltschutztechnikerin · FR technicien de l’environnement/technicienne de l’environnement
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Conservation professionals (2151)21,900 employed
- Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services (1163)8,000 employed
- Environment professionals (2152)80,200 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 “Technicians and associate 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 | €50,992 |
| Austria | €46,986 |
| Germany | €44,473 |
| Netherlands | €42,448 |
| Ireland | €41,613 |
| Sweden | €41,155 |
| Italy | €34,882 |
| France | €34,816 |
| Spain | €29,757 |
| Portugal | €18,080 |
| Poland | €12,108 |
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.
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