What does an environmental engineering technician do? As an environmental engineering technician, you’ll be the one who takes what the environmental engineer plans and initiates it. You’ll either be working in a lab or in the field, depending on the nature of the job.

Your daily duties may include:

  • Using the equipment that you’ve set up in order to prevent or clean up any environmental pollution
  • Keeping and maintaining records and program files
  • Taking samples of pollution, conducting surveys, and analyzing the findings
  • Testing both indoor and outdoor air quality
  • Lessening the severity of pollution
  • Looking over any technical documents to ensure safety and compliance are being followed
  • Making sure toxins are being disposed of properly
  • Inspecting facilities to make sure they’re following safety protocols
  • Helping engineers design and create pollution control devices and equipment
  • Making sure the laboratory is well stocked

How to Become an Environmental Engineering Technician

As with most other engineering tech programs, you’ll be required to take a heavy load of math, hazardous waste management, and chemistry courses, to name a few. You’ll need to get an associate’s degree to be a tech, and a bachelor’s degree to be an engineer.

  • Get your high school diploma or GED.
  • Apply to either a community college in the engineering technology program, or a similar program through a trade school.
  • Find an internship to gain experience in the field.
  • Get your associate’s degree or certification.
  • Find a job.
  • Consider advancing your career by getting a bachelor’s degree.

Salary and Job Outlook

You can expect regular, full time hours when you start working as an environmental engineering technician, except if there is a major environmental issue. When you first start working, you’ll earn an average salary of over $31K. With experience and a bit of time under your belt, you’ll starting making the median annual salary, which is just over $50K. Once you’ve hit mid career, you’ll earn what the top ten percent of your peers do, which is more than $81K. Keep in mind, salaries will vary based on experience, industry, and location.

The job outlook through 2026 is predicted to be much faster than most other jobs. With 2,200 new positions opening up, there is a decent sized demand for qualified and skilled workers in this field.

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