How to become an Environmental Health Officer

Develops, enforces and evaluates environmental health policies, programs and strategies to improve health outcomes, and oversees the implementation and monitoring of environmental health legislation.

Main tasks

• Develops, implements and reviews environmental health management plans
• Prepares and implements plans and strategies for the safe, economic and suitable disposal of commercial, industrial, medical and household wastes
• Advises on and enforces environmental health legislation
• Implements prevention programs and strategies for communicable diseases, food safety, wastewater treatment and disposal systems, recreation and domestic water quality, and any contaminated or hazardous substances
• Conducts inspections and investigations for legislative compliance with environmental health standards
• Provides advice on environmental health issues

Ways in

• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Indigenous Environmental Health (HLT36115); Certificate II in Indigenous Environmental Health (HLT26120); Certificate IV in Indigenous Environmental Health (HLT46115); Certificate IV in Population Health (HLT46015); Diploma of Food Safety Auditing (FBP50221); Diploma of Leisure and Health (CHC53415)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $118,768 a year
• About 40,000 people work in this job group now, and about 47,900 are projected by 2035. (+19.8%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Health Promotion Officer
• Dental Hygienist
• Dental Prosthetist
• Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist
• Dental Specialist
• Dentist

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Environmental Health Officer?

Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate III in Indigenous Environmental Health; Certificate II in Indigenous Environmental Health.

How much does an Environmental Health Officer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $118,768 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Environmental Health Officer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2035, from about 40,000 to about 47,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Environmental Health Officer?

Usually. 61% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Environmental Health Officer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04