Occupations/19-4042.00
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.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
35%
More resilient
Human characteristics
59%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
43%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Mostly routine
Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
- Task
Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- 02Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- 03Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- 04Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- 05Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- 06Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.14
- Degree of automation2.05
- Time sitting3.23
- Originality (ability)2.88
- Conflict situations3.00
- Hands-on objects/tools2.57
- Outdoors / weather3.59
- Disease exposure2.18
- Decision freedom3.77
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Written Expression3.88
- Near Vision3.88
- Deductive Reasoning3.88
- Speech Clarity3.62
- Problem Sensitivity3.62
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.88
- Speaking3.88
- Mathematics3.12
- Science3.38
- Critical Thinking3.75
- Active Learning3.12
- Learning Strategies3.00
- Monitoring3.38
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 90 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $60,100 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $66,536 2 yr $53,168 Master's · CIP 03.01 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $63,749 2 yr $59,124 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $68,200 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $59,288 2 yr $56,776 Master's · CIP 03.01 |
The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $14,600 | 65% | 73% | 1 yr $57,318 2 yr $48,432 Master's · CIP 03.01 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $51,607 2 yr $48,041 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $46,846 2 yr $46,673 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $45,500 2 yr $43,798 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $15,200 | 24% | 87% | 1 yr $44,737 2 yr $41,565 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public | Environmental Chemistry 40.0509 | $4,700 | 100% | 34% | 1 yr $43,575 2 yr $44,021 Bachelor's · CIP 40.05 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr $42,682 2 yr $33,565 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
Houston Community College Houston, TX · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $4,300 | 100% | 24% | 1 yr $42,682 2 yr $36,848 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |
CUNY Hunter College New York, NY · Public | Environmental Science 03.0104 | $7,400 | 48% | 60% | 1 yr $41,565 2 yr $31,839 Bachelor's · CIP 03.01 |