Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

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.

Median wage

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Projected growth

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Annual openings

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per year

Employed (US)

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Job Zone 4

Typical preparation

Considerable preparation

Stackable credential programs

143 mapped

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Core skills

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningActive LearningSpeakingScienceMonitoringJudgment and Decision Making

Knowledge areas

Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageChemistry

Technology & tools

Desktop publishing softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development softwareCompliance software

Representative tasks

Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries oPerform environmental quality work in field or office settings.

Competency framework

Skill expectations by proficiency level.

emerging

Project logbooks and computer program files — maintain under direct supervision using established templates on active environmental monitoring projects.Field and laboratory data including numerical results, photographs, and visual observations — record accurately following standardized protocols at regulated field sites.Environmental quality tasks in office and field settings — perform under technician guidance using prescribed checklists and safety procedures.Pollution samples from air, soil, and groundwater matrices — collect using designated sampling equipment under the direction of a licensed environmental engineer.Environmental samples for shipping or laboratory analysis — prepare, label, and package in compliance with chain-of-custody requirements and hazardous materials regulations.Field equipment used to test or remediate pollutants — decontaminate following written standard operating procedures between sampling events.Basic data tables, charts, and graphs for environmental assessment reports — compile from field measurements using spreadsheet software under senior staff review.Technical environmental literature and regulatory guidance documents — read and summarize key requirements to support project team decision-making.Process parameters within environmental control systems — monitor instrument readings and flag anomalies to supervising engineers during routine operations.Geographic information system (GIS) and analytical software tools — operate at a basic level to input field data and generate preliminary site maps under guidance.

developing

Project logbook records and digital program files — maintain independently across multiple concurrent environmental field projects, ensuring completeness and regulatory defensibility.Field and laboratory datasets including test results and observational summaries — record, validate, and organize with reduced oversight, identifying data gaps before submission.Environmental quality work across field and office settings — perform routinely, adapting sampling and monitoring techniques to varying site conditions and seasonal constraints.Air and groundwater pollution samples — collect and conduct preliminary chemical analyses, interpreting results against applicable regulatory benchmarks.Environmental assessment reports with tabulated data, charts, and sketches — produce to a draft-final standard using desktop publishing and analytical software tools.Field sampling and decontamination equipment — test, calibrate, and maintain to manufacturer and regulatory specifications, documenting findings in equipment logs.Process anomalies within environmental control or remediation systems — evaluate against baseline parameters and recommend corrective actions to project engineers.Chain-of-custody documentation and sample packaging protocols — execute with accuracy for complex multi-media sample shipments to accredited analytical laboratories.Environmental compliance software and database interfaces — query and update project records, generating status reports to support client deliverables.Technical findings from field investigations — communicate clearly in written reports and oral briefings to project teams and agency representatives.

proficient

Comprehensive project logbooks and electronic file systems — manage autonomously across the full project lifecycle, ensuring data integrity for regulatory submittals and legal defensibility.Multi-parameter field and laboratory datasets — analyze independently, applying statistical methods and scientific judgment to identify trends, outliers, and site-specific contamination patterns.Complex environmental quality investigations in diverse field and office settings — conduct across the full scope of site characterization, remediation monitoring, and compliance verification.Air, soil, and groundwater pollution samples — design site-specific sampling programs, oversee collection, and interpret analytical results to guide remedial decision-making.Detailed environmental assessment reports and technical memoranda — author with professional-level rigor, integrating data visualizations, regulatory citations, and risk-based conclusions.Non-routine process anomalies in remediation or environmental control systems — diagnose root causes using systems analysis and inductive reasoning, implementing corrective operational changes.Field equipment decontamination and QA/QC programs — develop and oversee site-wide protocols, ensuring equipment performance meets data quality objectives across all sampling events.CAD and GIS platforms — utilize proficiently to produce site maps, cross-sections, and spatial analyses that support technical reports and regulatory submissions.Environmental regulations and engineering standards — interpret and apply to novel site conditions, exercising independent judgment to select appropriate compliance strategies.Interdisciplinary project teams and client stakeholders — coordinate technical workflows, resolve scheduling conflicts, and present findings with credibility and clarity.

advanced

Organization-wide environmental data management systems and project file standards — architect and enforce, ensuring consistent quality across all programs and regulatory jurisdictions.Strategic environmental assessment frameworks — develop and institutionalize, guiding the methodology by which the organization characterizes, evaluates, and reports site conditions at scale.Technical staff performing environmental quality work in field and office settings — mentor and evaluate, building team competency through structured training and performance feedback.Firm-level sampling and analytical quality assurance programs — design and lead, establishing data quality objectives and corrective action protocols that meet or exceed regulatory requirements.Complex, multi-site remediation and compliance portfolios — direct as principal technical authority, integrating engineering judgment, regulatory strategy, and resource allocation across concurrent projects.Environmental process control systems with recurring or systemic anomalies — lead root-cause investigations, recommending capital improvements or operational redesigns to senior leadership and clients.Regulatory agency relationships and technical negotiations — represent the organization authoritatively, interpreting emerging policy and advocating for science-based compliance pathways.Cross-functional project delivery teams spanning engineering, science, and field operations — coordinate at an organizational level, aligning timelines, budgets, and technical outputs to client objectives.Advanced GIS, analytical, and industrial control technologies — champion adoption and integration across the organization, evaluating emerging tools against operational and regulatory requirements.Environmental engineering and science knowledge — contribute to the profession through technical publications, peer review, or regulatory comment, elevating organizational and industry standards.

Also known as

32 alternate job titles map to this occupation.

Pollution-Control TechnicianEngineering TechnicianQuality TechnicianAir AnalystEnvironmental Engineering TechnicianPollution Control TechnicianAir Analysis Engineering TechnicianPollution Control Engineering TechnicianIntake Technician (Intake Tech)Environmental Field Team MemberPrograms TechnicianEngineer TechnicianAir Pollution SpecialistEnvironmental Field ProfessionalEnvironmental Engineering AideWater Pollution Control TechnicianEnvironmental Remediation Engineering TechnicianEnvironmental Field LaborerSoil TechnicianAir Moving TechnicianEnvironmental Engineering TechnologistEmissions Technician (Emissions Tech)Air Analysis TechnicianAir TechnicianSoil Field TechnicianEnvironmental TechnicianEnvironmental Field TechnicianAquatic Technician (Aquatic Tech)Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician)Field TechnicianEnvironmental Engineering AssistantAir Quality Instrument Specialist

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