How to become an Environmental Scientist or Specialist
Official title: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Also called: Environmental Analyst, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS Specialist), Environmental Health Specialist, Environmental Programs Specialist, Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental Scientist, Environmental Specialist, Hazardous Substances Scientist, Natural Resources Specialist, Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS)
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Main tasks
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
- Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
How to become one
To enter the occupation, environmental scientists and specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in natural science or a related field.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Environmental Analyst.
- College: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $82,220 a year The middle half earn $64,490 to $107,970.
- About 93,400 people work in this job now, and about 99,200 are projected by 2035. (+6.1%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
- Climate Change Policy Analysts
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Industrial Ecologists
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
- Hydrologists
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Environmental Scientist or Specialist?
To enter the occupation, environmental scientists and specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in natural science or a related field.
How much does an Environmental Scientist or Specialist earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $82,220 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $64,490 to $107,970.
Is an Environmental Scientist or Specialist a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 93,400 to about 99,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Environmental Scientist or Specialist?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Environmental Scientist or Specialist?
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.