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.

From people doing the work

My days are a mix of field work, collecting samples from various sites, and lab analysis, where I use specialized equipment to test for pollutants. It's to see the data come together to inform environmental protection efforts, even if some days are spent careful documenting everything.

Drawn from NAEP discussions, WEF publications, Reddit environmental forums

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from NAEP discussions, WEF publications, Reddit environmental forums

A day in the life of Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
75% Team / 25% Solo
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
Frequent
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
Hybrid
Typical work hours
40-50
Stress level
Moderate

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$49,490
Entry-level
$32,000
Senior
$82,000
Growth by 2033
+4.0%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Low
Salary growth potential
156%
Typical student debt
High

Skills you need as Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Hard skills

  • Chemistry
  • Science
  • Computer aided design CAD software

Soft skills

  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Learning Strategies
  • Active Listening

Technical complexity: Moderate

Tools of the trade

Core tools

  • Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) (Hardware): Used for identifying and quantifying different substances within a test sample, crucial for pollution analysis.
  • Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) (Hardware): Measures the concentration of specific metals in environmental samples, vital for heavy metal contamination detection.
  • Geographic Information System (GIS) software (Software): Used for mapping and analyzing environmental data, such as pollution spread and resource distribution.

Commonly used

  • pH meters (Hardware): Measures the acidity or alkalinity of water and soil samples, a fundamental environmental parameter.
  • Microsoft Excel (Software): Used for data entry, organization, and basic statistical analysis of environmental monitoring results.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations (Standard): Provides guidelines and standards for environmental monitoring, compliance, and reporting.

Specialist tools

  • Sampling pumps (Hardware): Used to collect air and water samples for analysis in various environmental settings.

How to become Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
6-10
Years to senior
15-20
Career switching
Hard

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Laboratory Technician: Technicians with strong lab skills can transition into environmental roles by specializing in environmental sample analysis.
  • Field Sampler: Individuals experienced in collecting samples in various environments can move into technician roles with additional training in analysis.
  • Chemical Technician: Technicians with a chemistry background can apply their analytical skills to environmental monitoring and protection.

Where you can go from here

  • Environmental Scientist: With further education and experience, technicians can advance to environmental scientist roles, focusing on research and project management.
  • Hydrologist: Specializing in water resources, technicians can pivot to hydrologist roles with expertise in water quality and quantity.
  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialist: Technicians with a focus on health aspects can transition to roles ensuring workplace safety and compliance with health regulations.

Typical progression

  1. Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
  2. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
  3. Industrial Ecologists
  4. Hydrologists
  5. or Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
Low
AI disruption risk
Low
Demand trend
Stable

Job satisfaction as Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Overall satisfaction
7.8/10
Meaning
8.5/10
Work-life balance
7/10
Prestige
8.5/10
Social perception
Very High

Where practitioners gather

Professional organisations

Podcasts and media

Reddit communities

  • r/Environmental_Science: An online community for discussions and sharing information related to environmental science.

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