Environmental Engineers

environmental engineer_1_1.webp
$100,090 Median Wage (2023)
3,000 Projected job openings (2023-2033)
6.9% Projected growth (2023-2033)

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

Experience Requirements Overview

  • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration

Detailed Work Activities

  • Prepare technical or operational reports.
  • Maintain operational records or records systems.
  • Advise others regarding green practices or environmental concerns.
  • Monitor activities affecting environmental quality.
  • Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

  • Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
  • Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
  • Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
  • Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
  • Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
  • Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
  • Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
  • Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
  • Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
  • Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
  • Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.
  • Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration.
  • Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work.
  • Advise industries or government agencies about environmental policies and standards.
  • Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
  • Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
  • Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
  • Request bids from suppliers or consultants.
  • Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues.
  • Serve as liaison with federal, state, or local agencies or officials on issues pertaining to solid or hazardous waste program requirements.
  • Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties.
  • Provide environmental engineering assistance in network analysis, regulatory analysis, or planning or reviewing database development.
  • Develop or present environmental compliance training or orientation sessions.
  • Provide assistance with planning, quality assurance, safety inspection protocols, or sampling as part of a team conducting multimedia inspections at complex facilities.
  • Develop, implement, or manage plans or programs related to conservation or management of natural resources.
  • Prepare hazardous waste manifests or land disposal restriction notifications.
  • Attend professional conferences to share information.
  • Write reports or articles for Web sites or newsletters related to environmental engineering issues.
  • Assess, sort, characterize, or pack known or unknown materials.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.