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

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$55,090median pay per year, or $26.49 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,170lowest 10% earn less
  2. $45,82025th percentile
  3. $55,090median
  4. $69,91075th percentile
  5. $94,160top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Environmental science and protection technicians had a median pay of $55,090 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to grow 6.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.9%[3]
Openings per year
5,300[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[7]

How much do environmental technicians make?

The median wage was $55,090 a year, or $26.49 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $60,800 a year, or $29.23 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[2].

The range is wide. Here are the percentiles[5][9]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][9] $38,170 $18.35
25th[5][9] $45,820 $22.03
Median[1] $55,090 $26.49
75th[5][9] $69,910 $33.61
90th[5][9] $94,160 $45.27

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $38,170[5][10]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. About 34,670 people held these jobs on a wage or salary basis[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median wage at $67,160[13]. Nebraska came next at $66,240, then Connecticut at $66,120[13]. Mississippi was the lowest of the 49 states with published data, at $35,010[13].

California had the most jobs (6,010), followed by Texas (3,350), Florida (2,090), New York (1,960) and Virginia (1,450)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $80,840[15]. Fresno came next at $77,840, then the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh area at $74,410[15]. The Los Angeles area had the most jobs (1,460), with a median of $62,850[16].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$67,160850
Nebraska$66,240140
Connecticut$66,120n/a
Minnesota$65,320450
Rhode Island$64,83090
New York$62,4001,960
New Mexico$62,330500
North Dakota$61,430140
California$61,2206,010
Colorado$60,930740
Pennsylvania$60,6501,180
Montana$60,55070
Nevada$60,370390
Illinois$59,930980
Massachusetts$59,330330
Oregon$58,950440
Utah$58,240270
Arizona$57,800590
Hawaii$57,010260
Tennessee$56,960320
Ohio$56,070770
Idaho$55,420200
Wisconsin$55,290380
Alaska$55,220440
Maryland$55,090580
Vermont$55,09050
New Hampshire$54,08080
West Virginia$52,590750
New Jersey$52,190830
Iowa$52,020470
Maine$51,820150
North Carolina$51,6301,100
Michigan$51,290600
Texas$50,7103,350
Missouri$50,340380
Wyoming$49,440150
Virginia$49,4301,450
Indiana$49,020780
Florida$48,8402,090
South Carolina$48,700500
Arkansas$48,390160
Oklahoma$48,090360
Georgia$48,0501,110
Kansas$47,880340
Kentucky$46,840560
Delaware$45,720150
Alabama$45,000410
South Dakota$44,18060
Mississippi$35,010250

How to become an environmental technician

The typical path looks like this:

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 68% said a bachelor's degree was required and 23% said an associate's or other 2-year degree[19]. That is a small survey.

Science classes with lab work are important, including chemistry, biology and physics[20]. Math, statistics and computer science help with data analysis[20].

Some states require a license or registration, so check with your state licensing agency[21]. Employers may prefer a driver's license or a commercial driver's license, and OSHA certification such as HAZWOPER may help[22]. Optional certification for some environmental and health inspections also exists[23].

What environmental technicians do

These workers run lab and field tests to monitor the environment and look into sources of pollution, including pollution that affects health. They work under the direction of a scientist, engineer or other specialist[24]. Typical tasks include:

O*NET workers report job titles such as sanitarian, environmental health officer and soil lab technician[26].

Where they work

Technicians typically work in offices, laboratories and the field. Fieldwork can mean visiting industrial sites or working outdoors in bad weather[27]. In the field, they may be on their feet a lot, carry heavy equipment and wear protective gear such as hardhats or masks[28].

Local government, excluding education and hospitals, was the largest employer, at 21% of jobs in 2025[29]. Most technicians have full-time jobs, and some put in over 40 hours a week[30]. Travel and fieldwork may mean nonstandard hours[30]. In 2025, 1.8% were self-employed[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 36,400 to 38,900 jobs[3]. These counts include the self-employed, so they differ from the OEWS count above[12][3]. Across all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth[4].

About 5,300 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 11.6% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay above the all-occupations median and growth faster than the all-occupations rate[1][2][3][4]. Entry typically needs an associate's degree, and some positions ask for more[7][33]. The work mixes lab tests, fieldwork and report writing, and it can involve heavy equipment and outdoor weather[25][27][28]. It may suit people who like science and detail-heavy tasks[20][34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an environmental technician make an hour?
The median was $26.49 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $22.03 and $33.61 an hour[9].
What degree do you need to be an environmental technician?
An associate's degree is typical, though some positions may require a bachelor's degree[7][33].
Are environmental technicians in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 6.9% from 2025 to 2035, and about 5,300 openings are projected each year[3][6].
What is the highest paying state for environmental technicians?
Washington had the highest median at $67,160, followed by Nebraska at $66,240[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in the US was $55,090 per year and $26.49 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health is projected to grow 6.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 36,400 to 38,900 jobs (a change of +2,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health: 10th percentile $38,170, 25th percentile $45,820, 75th percentile $69,910, 90th percentile $94,160. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 5,300 openings for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health 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 Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health was $60,800 per year and $29.23 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health: 10th percentile $18.35, 25th percentile $22.03, 75th percentile $33.61, 90th percentile $45.27. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 34,670 people were employed as Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health 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 Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health jobs: California 6,010; Texas 3,350; Florida 2,090; New York 1,960; Virginia 1,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $80,840; Fresno, CA $77,840; Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $74,410; Albuquerque, NM $70,600; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $68,900; Boise City, ID $67,680; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $67,630; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $64,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,460 (median $62,850); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,440 (median $62,650); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 930 (median $49,170); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 710 (median $53,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 690 (median $60,380); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 690 (median $80,840). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 19-4042.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 68%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 23% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 19-4042.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Industrial Pretreatment Program Specialist (IPP Specialist), Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Public Health Sanitarian, Sanitarian, Sanitarian Specialist, Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician). O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of environmental science and protection technicians in 2025: Local government, excluding education and hospitals 21%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: 1.8% of Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 11.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. 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.