Occupation · SOC 19-2041
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
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.
Median wage
$80,060
$50,130–$134,830
Projected growth
+4.4%
Average growth
Annual openings
400
per year
Employed (US)
84,930
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
729 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingScienceCritical ThinkingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
English LanguageBiologyCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific softwareDocument management softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development software
Representative 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.Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.Investigate and report on accidents affecting the environment.Develop the technical portions of legal documents, administrative orders, or consent decrees.Design or direct studies to obtain technical environmental information about planned projects.Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys.Conduct applied research on environmental topics, such as waste control or treatment or pollution abatement methods.Develop programs designed to obtain the most productive, non-damaging use of land.Develop methods to minimize the impact of production processes on the environment, based on the study and assessment of industrial production, environmental legislation, and physical, biological, and social environments.Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Environmental data collection protocols — follow and execute under direct supervision to obtain soil, water, or air samples at assigned field sites.Analytical and scientific software — operate with guidance to enter and organize environmental monitoring measurements in a structured database.Environmental regulations and technical standards — review assigned documents and identify relevant requirements under the direction of a senior scientist.Written environmental reports — draft routine sections summarizing field observations and sample results for supervisor review.Pollution monitoring equipment — set up and operate calibrated instruments at field sites following established standard operating procedures.Environmental permit applications — compile supporting documentation and assist senior staff with processing submissions under direct oversight.Geographic information system tools — input spatial data and produce basic maps of environmental sampling locations for project use.Public or internal briefings on environmental findings — prepare supporting materials and assist senior staff during presentations to stakeholder groups.Environmental inspection checklists — complete during site visits alongside experienced inspectors to document potential regulatory violations.Scientific literature and technical guidance documents — read and summarize key findings relevant to assigned environmental projects under supervisor direction.
developing
Environmental monitoring datasets — synthesize and analyze with reduced oversight to identify trends in pollution emissions or land degradation across multiple sampling events.Environmental audit and inspection activities — conduct independently at regulated facilities, documenting findings and recommending corrective actions in compliance with applicable standards.Technical environmental reports — write and finalize for internal and external audiences, translating complex data into clear findings without routine supervisory review.Spreadsheet and database software — manage and query to track permit status, monitoring results, and regulatory compliance records for an assigned portfolio of projects.Environmental permits and licenses — process and evaluate for completeness and technical adequacy, coordinating with applicants and agency reviewers as needed.Pollution prevention strategies — recommend based on site-specific monitoring results and established scientific principles to governmental agencies or industry clients.Training sessions or workshops on environmental compliance — deliver to public or organizational audiences adapting content to audience technical level.CAD and mapping software — use to produce environmental site plans and remediation layout drawings in support of project planning activities.Environmental policy and regulatory requirements — interpret and apply to novel site conditions within familiar regulatory frameworks using professional judgment.Interdisciplinary project teams — coordinate with to align field schedules, data collection methods, and reporting timelines on mid-scale environmental investigations.
proficient
Complex environmental problems involving multiple contaminants or regulatory jurisdictions — solve autonomously by integrating scientific data, legal requirements, and stakeholder considerations.Environmental monitoring programs — design and oversee across a full project lifecycle, from sampling plan development through final data synthesis and regulatory submission.Scientific or technical guidance — provide to governmental agencies, industry representatives, and community stakeholders on environmental risk assessment and management strategies.Environmental policy recommendations and codes of practice — develop based on independent analysis of scientific evidence, regulatory trends, and site-specific conditions.Non-routine compliance investigations and violation assessments — lead independently, applying deductive and inductive reasoning to evaluate evidence and determine enforcement pathways.Advanced analytical and compliance software platforms — configure and use to manage large environmental datasets and generate regulatory-grade reports across diverse project types.Public hearings, conferences, or interagency workshops — present complex environmental findings and recommendations, responding fluently to technical and policy questions.Environmental technical standards and formal regulations — review, evaluate, and implement systematically, identifying gaps and recommending amendments to meet evolving scientific understanding.Quantitative environmental risk models — apply and critically evaluate to support land use, public health, or remediation decisions under conditions of data uncertainty.Environmental impact assessment processes — manage end-to-end, coordinating scientific disciplines and ensuring all regulatory milestones are met on schedule and within scope.
advanced
Organizational environmental science strategy — set and communicate across divisions, aligning research priorities, compliance programs, and public engagement with long-term regulatory and business objectives.Environmental policies and regulatory frameworks — influence at agency or legislative level by authoring technical white papers and testifying at public hearings as a recognized subject-matter authority.Environmental science professionals — mentor and develop by establishing competency pathways, assigning stretch projects, and delivering performance feedback across career levels.Enterprise-level compliance and permitting systems — lead implementation of, integrating GIS, database, and document management platforms to support organization-wide environmental data governance.Interagency and cross-sector partnerships — forge and sustain to coordinate large-scale environmental monitoring, remediation, or public health initiatives spanning multiple jurisdictions.Organizational risk posture related to environmental liability — assess and advise executive leadership on, synthesizing scientific, legal, and financial dimensions into actionable management recommendations.Innovative environmental investigation methodologies — champion adoption of by evaluating emerging scientific tools and piloting new approaches across the organization's project portfolio.Environmental management personnel resources — direct and allocate strategically across concurrent high-priority projects, balancing workloads and ensuring quality outcomes under resource constraints.Institutional standards and codes of practice for environmental management — author and promulgate, establishing benchmarks that elevate technical rigor across the profession or sector.Scientific communication at the executive or legislative level — lead, translating highly technical environmental findings into policy-relevant language for decision-makers, media, and the public.
Also known as
117 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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