The median pay for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians is $59,920 a year ($28.81/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.1% through 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 17-3025
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $59,920a year, or $28.81/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $97K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.1%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,10012,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202512.5K
- Projected 203512.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 12.5K Projected 2035 12.9K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school10.8%
- Certificate8.2%
- Some college6.6%
- Associate's1.5%
- Bachelor's67.3%
- Post-bacc certificate4.7%
Highest education held by environmental engineering technologists and technicians Segment Value High school 10.8% Certificate 8.2% Some college 6.6% Associate's 1.5% Bachelor's 67.3% Post-bacc certificate 4.7%
Also advertised as: Air Quality Instrument Specialist, EHS Engineer (Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer), Engineer, Environmental Engineering Assistant, Environmental Engineering Technician (Environmental Engineering Tech), Environmental Field Technician (Environmental Field Tech).
Pay
How much do Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians make?
Every environmental engineering technologist and technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$59,920
Middle half earn $48,200 to $75,960
- 10th
- $39,910
- 25th
- $48,200
- 75th
- $75,960
- 90th
- $96,660
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,910 |
| 25th | $48,200 |
| Median | $59,920 |
| 75th | $75,960 |
| 90th | $96,660 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $59,920
- Median hourly wage
- $28.81/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $64,870
- People employed
- 12,190
Versus all US occupations
At $59,920, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn 18% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,940 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 42% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $96,660 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,910, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 32% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $100,050, and still leads at $93,493 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $100,050 | $93,493 | 270 |
| 2Oregon | $80,770 | $78,144 | 140 |
| 3Tennessee | $80,100 | $87,188 | 450 |
| 4Alaska | $77,860 | $76,066 | 40 |
| 5Nevada | $75,330 | $75,346 | 70 |
| 6Maryland | $67,510 | $64,320 | 250 |
| 7Massachusetts | $66,860 | $63,220 | 320 |
| 8Arizona | $65,420 | $64,980 | 190 |
| 9Maine | $64,660 | $66,625 | N/A |
| 10South Carolina | $63,200 | $67,414 | 220 |
Job outlook
Is Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | +3.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,100 openings are projected each year, 8.8% of the 12,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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. Some demand for environmental engineering technologists and technicians is expected over the decade as increasing concerns about pollution lead to water- and air-quality improvement efforts. However, employment growth may be limited as automated environmental testing increases productivity for these workers.
Getting in
How to become an Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as environmental engineering technologists and technicians.
- Bachelor's Degree67.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)10.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.2%
- Some College Courses6.6%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 67.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 10.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.2% |
| Some College Courses | 6.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician do?
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.
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.
Day-to-day tasks
- Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
- Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
- Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
- Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
- Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most environmental engineering technologists and technicians work full time and typically have regular hours. However, they may work irregular hours in order to monitor operations or contain a major environmental threat.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where environmental engineering technologists and technicians work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Engineering services33%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals17%
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services16%
- Waste management and remediation services12%
- Manufacturing8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Engineering services | 33% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 17% |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 16% |
| Waste management and remediation services | 12% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Speaking3.4
- Science3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Writing3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Science | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Categorization or classification software
- Compliance software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.3
- Investigative5.9
- Conventional4.8
- Artistic1.7
- Social1.5
- Enterprising1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Science and Protection Technician, Including Health
$55,090median a year
Most earn $38K to $94K
+6.9%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health
$82,220median a year
Most earn $53K to $140K
+6.1%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Production
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator
$60,020median a year
Most earn $39K to $91K
−5.7%High school - Architecture and Engineering
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with environmental engineering technologists and technicians highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
- Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician$59,920
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician | $59,920 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within environmental engineering technologist and technician
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician appears on
Questions
Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians make?
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $59,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 18% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.81/hr. The middle half earn between $48,200 and $75,960. The top 10% earn $96,660 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 67.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician do?
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop. A core O*NET task: decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians are Washington ($100,050), Oregon ($80,770), Tennessee ($80,100) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician?
O*NET scores Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.