Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Examining information carefully, recognizing patterns, and using evidence to reach sound conclusions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an Environmental Engineering Technologist or Technician Environmental engineering technologists and technicians perform indoor and outdoor environmental quality work. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field.
Education
Prospective environmental engineering technologists and technicians should take science and math courses in high school to prepare for postsecondary programs in engineering technology. Employers usually prefer to hire candidates who have completed accredited postsecondary programs. Although some candidates may be hired with a high school diploma and postsecondary coursework, environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology or a related field to enter the occupation. Associate degree programs in environmental engineering technology are available in community colleges and vocational–technical schools. These programs generally include courses in chemistry, environmental assessment, hazardous-waste management, and mathematics. Some environmental engineering technologists and technicians enter the occupation with a bachelor’s degree.
Training
in health hazards, personal protective equipment, site safety, recognizing and identifying hazards, and decontamination. Refresher training may be required to maintain certification. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Advancement Environmental engineering technologists and technicians usually begin work as trainees in entry-level positions and are supervised by an environmental engineer or experienced technician. As they gain experience, technologists and technicians take on more responsibility. Some advance to become senior environmental technologists and technicians or lead environmental technologists and technicians, functioning as supervisors onsite. Technicians with a bachelor’s degree may advance to become environmental engineers.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some states require environmental technologists and technicians to have permits or licenses to remove hazardous waste. Workers also may be required to have Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) certification. HAZWOPER certification includes
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of environmental engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings for environmental engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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 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. Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Environmental engineering technologists and technicians 3% Total, all occupations 3% Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.
Duties
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:
- Set up, test, operate, and modify equipment used to prevent or clean up environmental pollution
- Maintain project records and computer program files
- Collect and analyze samples, such as of ground water, for monitoring pollution or treatment
- Review documents to ensure that they are complete and conform to reporting requirements
- Review work plans to schedule activities
- Arrange for the disposal of asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians work both indoors and outdoors help to ensure environmental quality. Their tasks aid environmental engineers in developing solutions to control, prevent, and mitigate damage caused by pollution and other environmental problems.
In laboratories, environmental engineering technologists and technicians record observations and test results and document photographs. To keep laboratories supplied, they also may gather product information, identify vendors and suppliers, and order materials and equipment.
In the field, environmental engineering technologists and technicians may collect air, soil, or ground and surface water samples of an area. They also prepare and clean equipment, operate field sampling pumps, and monitor instruments.
They also may inspect facilities for compliance with regulations governing substances such as asbestos, lead, and wastewater.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians held about 12,500 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of environmental engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:
| 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 |
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians work under the direction of environmental engineers and as part of a team with other technicians. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians may work indoors, often in laboratories. They also work outdoors, sometimes in remote locations.
Because environmental engineering technologists and technicians help with environmental cleanup, they may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials. For this reason, they must follow proper safety procedures, such as wearing hazmat suits and respirators as needed. When they work in wet areas, environmental engineering technologists and technicians wear rubber boots to keep their legs and feet dry.
Work Schedules
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.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. When working on teams, environmental engineering technologists and technicians must listen attentively and convey information to others. Critical-thinking skills. Environmental engineers rely on technologists and technicians to help identify problems and solutions and to implement the engineers’ plans. Observational skills. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians must be able to evaluate situations, recognize problems, and inform environmental engineers as quickly as possible. Problem-solving skills. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians implement plans designed by environmental engineers. They must be able to resolve issues that arise, such as unexpected findings during fieldwork. Reading skills. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians must be able to understand legal and technical documents in order to ensure that regulations are being met.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about environmental engineering technologists and technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.