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Environmental field technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,920median pay per year, or $28.81 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,910lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,20025th percentile
  3. $59,920median
  4. $75,96075th percentile
  5. $96,660top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Environmental engineering technologists and technicians had a median pay of $59,920 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, close to the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.1%[2]
Openings per year
1,100[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[7]

How much do environmental field technicians make?

The BLS category is Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians. Job titles include environmental field tech and hazardous technician[8]. The median pay was $59,920 a year, or $28.81 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $64,870 a year, or $31.19 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,910 a year, and the 25th percentile was $48,200[4]. The 75th percentile was $75,960 and the 90th percentile was $96,660[4]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $19.19 and the 90th percentile was $46.47[10]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[11].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or some bonuses[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $100,050, followed by Oregon at $80,770 and Tennessee at $80,100[13]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $36,680[13].

California had the most jobs at 2,060[14]. Texas (1,240), Georgia (670), Ohio (630) and New York (470) followed[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $105,250, just ahead of Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $105,070[15]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the most jobs at 670, with a median of $57,150[16].

Show median pay in 43 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$100,050270
Oregon$80,770140
Tennessee$80,100450
Alaska$77,86040
Nevada$75,33070
Maryland$67,510250
Massachusetts$66,860320
Arizona$65,420190
Maine$64,660n/a
South Carolina$63,200220
New York$62,540470
Idaho$62,24080
Oklahoma$61,900370
Kentucky$61,470200
New Mexico$61,170130
Louisiana$60,840100
Colorado$60,740n/a
New Jersey$60,740400
Georgia$60,500670
Utah$60,410120
Alabama$60,170230
Minnesota$60,11050
California$60,0102,060
Pennsylvania$59,920250
Kansas$59,420n/a
Montana$58,87080
Iowa$58,69080
Texas$57,1501,240
Nebraska$54,69040
South Dakota$53,96040
North Carolina$53,660120
Indiana$53,110130
Virginia$52,330n/a
Florida$51,970420
Ohio$51,830630
Hawaii$51,81050
Illinois$51,54080
Michigan$50,800220
Wisconsin$49,190310
West Virginia$47,65040
Arkansas$45,290200
New Hampshire$39,880n/a
Mississippi$36,680100

How to become an environmental field technician

Some states require permits or licenses to remove hazardous waste. Workers may also need HAZWOPER certification, which can need refresher training[21].

In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 67% said a bachelor's degree is required, 11% said a high school diploma or equivalent and 8% said a post-secondary certificate[22]. This is a small survey. Those with a bachelor's degree may move up to environmental engineer roles[23].

What environmental field technicians do

O*NET says these workers test, operate and modify equipment used to prevent, control and clean up environmental problems, under the direction of engineers or scientists[24]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

Engineering services is the largest employer group, at 33%[26]. Technicians work under environmental engineers and in teams. They may work indoors, often in labs, and outdoors, sometimes in remote places[27]. Cleanup work can expose them to hazards from equipment, chemicals or toxic materials, so they follow safety procedures[28]. Most work full time with regular hours, though irregular hours are possible when monitoring operations or containing a major threat[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 12,500 to 12,900 jobs[2]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 1,100 openings a year are projected[6]. They include jobs opened by retirements and moves to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 5.2% move to another occupation[30]. BLS also lists growing automation of environmental testing as a factor that lowers this job's share of employment[31].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is above the all-occupation median, and the typical entry education is an associate's degree[1][5][7]. Pay varies widely by state[13]. Growth is close to the average, though automation of testing may limit it[2][3][31]. The facts suggest it suits people who like a mix of lab and field work and can follow strict safety rules[27][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an environmental field technician make an hour?
The median pay was $28.81 an hour in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to be an environmental engineering technician?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some workers enter with a bachelor's degree[18].
Is environmental engineering technician work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 1,100 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for environmental technicians?
Washington had the highest state median at $100,050[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the US was $59,920 per year and $28.81 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians is projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 12,500 to 12,900 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: 10th percentile $39,910, 25th percentile $48,200, 75th percentile $75,960, 90th percentile $96,660. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,100 openings for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 17-3025.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Air Quality Instrument Specialist, EHS Engineer (Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer), Engineer, Environmental Engineering Assistant, Environmental Engineering Technician (Environmental Engineering Tech), Environmental Field Technician (Environmental Field Tech), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Haz Tech (Hazardous Technician). O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians was $64,870 per year and $31.19 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: 10th percentile $19.19, 25th percentile $23.18, 75th percentile $36.52, 90th percentile $46.47. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians jobs: California 2,060; Texas 1,240; Georgia 670; Ohio 630; New York 470. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $105,250; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $105,070; Knoxville, TN $91,440; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $88,790; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,780; Kansas City, MO-KS $67,560; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $67,020; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $66,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 670 (median $57,150); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 540 (median $60,500); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 500 (median $65,790); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 350 (median $58,830); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 340 (median $58,020); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 260 (median $59,340). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 17-3025.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 67%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 11%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8%, Some College Courses 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of environmental engineering technologists and technicians in 2025: Engineering services 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Productivity change - share decreases as automation of environmental testing increases. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.