Architecture & Engineering
Environmental Engineers
Also called: Air Pollution Control Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Consultant, Environmental Analyst
US median pay
$107,110
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.3%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
2,300
39,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
- Systems Analysis3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology5.0/5
- Design4.6/5
- Chemistry4.0/5
- Mathematics4.0/5
- Building and Construction3.9/5
- English Language3.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree62%
- Master's degree29%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.