Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

What Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do

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.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

1.2%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.7/5
• Mathematicsimportance 3.6/5
• Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.5/5
• English Languageimportance 3.4/5
• Chemistryimportance 3.4/5
• Mechanicalimportance 3.2/5
• Physicsimportance 3.2/5
• Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.1/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• E-Mail4.8/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
• Telephone Conversations4.5/5
• Contact With Others4.4/5
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results4.0/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.0/5

Related Careers

• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
• Environmental Engineers
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Compliance Officers
• Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
• Civil Engineers
• Industrial Engineers
• Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health89% skill match
• Chemists88% skill match
• Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers88% skill match
• Prosthodontists87% skill match
• Nurse Anesthetists86% skill match
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians86% skill match
• Marine Engineers and Naval Architects85% skill match
• First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers85% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.3/5
• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
• Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.1/5
• Time Managementimportance 3.1/5
• Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.0/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
• Operations Monitoringimportance 3.0/5
• Systems Analysisimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Integrity
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Perseverance
• Achievement Orientation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• RealisticHigh
• InvestigativeHigh
• ConventionalMedium
• ArtisticLow
• SocialLow
• EnterprisingLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where environmental engineering technologists and technicians make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Knoxville, TN7.48× national avg
2. 2Appleton, WI7.33× national avg
3. 3San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA5.46× national avg
4. 4Oklahoma City, OK4.42× national avg
5. 5Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR4.42× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthCareer Change
• Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsCareer Change
• Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsLateral Move
• ChemistsCareer Change

See the full career path from Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.