Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Low Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (2)

Lower estimated automation risk

Environmental Engineers
10% automation risk | Minimal Risk
Pays better Higher growth
17.6 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Direct credential-up path using remediation systems, treatment devices, data analysis, design support, and regulations.

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
21% automation risk | Low Risk
Higher growth More jobs
6.4 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Uses hazard monitoring, sampling, equipment checks, safety procedures, incident records, and risk controls.

Alternative careers

Related career paths that build on similar skills and experience

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
30% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better More jobs
View career
Why it fits

Applies process measurements, equipment tests, quality data, procedure documentation, and engineering support.

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
24% automation risk | Low Risk
Higher growth More jobs
3.8 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Very close technical move using field tests, sampling, monitoring, pollution data, instruments, and reports.

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
4.4/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

28% (Low Risk)

Low Risk (21-40%): This occupation has a lower risk of full replacement by AI, software, or robotic systems. Some tasks may be automated or assisted, but the role usually still relies on human judgement, communication, responsibility, physical adaptability, or practical decision-making.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Managing and developing people

Quite important
Why this matters
Motivate, coach, and direct others, and make hiring and staffing decisions. These people-focused responsibilities rely on judgment, trust, and interpersonal skill and are harder to replace end-to-end with automation.
Jobs that also use this strength

Originality

Quite important
Why this matters
Coming up with novel ideas and creative solutions when there isn’t an obvious playbook to follow.
Jobs that also use this strength

Social perceptiveness

Quite important
Why this matters
Noticing others’ emotions and reactions in the moment and adjusting what you say or do based on why they’re responding that way.
Jobs that also use this strength

Critical thinking

Quite important
Why this matters
Weigh options using logic and evidence, spot weaknesses in arguments, and choose the best approach when there isn’t a single clear answer.
Jobs that also use this strength

Active learning

Quite important
Why this matters
Keeps learning from new information and applying it to make better decisions now and in the future, especially when situations change.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 15 votes

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Pay & outlook

Wages

Moderately paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians was $58,890 ($28 per hour).

The median annual wage for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians was 19.0% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Slow growth relative to other professions.

The number of 'Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians' job openings is expected to rise 1.2% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Significantly lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 12,500 people employed as 'Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 12 thousand people are employed as 'Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians'.

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Job description

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.

O*NET-SOC code: 17-3025.00