Drafters, Engineering Technicians, and Mapping Technicians

How to become an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician

Official title: Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Also called: 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), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician), Remediation Technician (Remediation Tech)

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.

Main tasks

Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.

How to become one

Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician; Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician; Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $59,920 a year The middle half earn $48,200 to $75,960.
About 12,500 people work in this job now, and about 12,900 are projected by 2035. (+3.1%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician?

Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.

How much does an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $59,920 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,200 to $75,960.

Is an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 12,500 to about 12,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree.

Will AI change the work of an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.