Science
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Median salary (BLS)
$55,090
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$38k – $94k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $119,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Education
Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Intern
Internship
$36,000
~4 mos to advance
Junior Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Entry / Junior
$38,170
~2 yrs to advance
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Established
$55,090
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Senior
$74,625
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- •Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- •Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- •Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- •Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Science
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- California Institute of Technology3% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.