What You Need to Know About Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians

Environmental Science, Protection, or Health Technician Definition 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.

What do Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians do On a Daily Basis?

• Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
• Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities.
• Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment.
• Direct activities of workers in laboratory.
• Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas.
• Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.

What an Environmental Science, Protection, or Health Technician Should Know

When polled, Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Types of Environmental Science, Protection, or Health Technician Jobs

• Environmental Specialist
• Hazardous Materials Analyst
• Public Health Sanitarian
• Water Quality Technician
• Ground Water Technician

Job Opportunities for Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians

In the United States, there were 34,600 jobs for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,200 new jobs for Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,600 positions for Environmental Science, Protection, or Health Technician per year.

The states with the most job growth for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health are Texas, California, and New York.

Watch out if you plan on working in South Dakota, Rhode Island, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Environmental Science, Protection, or Health Technician Salary

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Make between $28,530 and $80,130 a year. The median salary is $46,170.

How much do Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Washington	$71,700
Rhode Island	$65,730
District of Columbia	$64,370
Utah	$60,670
California	$60,090
Idaho	$58,190
Massachusetts	$58,110
Maryland	$57,090
Minnesota	$56,020
Oregon	$55,660
Alaska	$55,560
New York	$52,810
Louisiana	$52,750
New Mexico	$52,470
Alabama	$51,520
Connecticut	$50,840
Nevada	$50,340
North Dakota	$49,910
Colorado	$49,840
Hawaii	$49,650
Nebraska	$48,480
Iowa	$47,950
Kansas	$47,760
New Hampshire	$47,670
Wisconsin	$47,280
Virginia	$47,150
Texas	$46,370
Michigan	$46,360
Arkansas	$46,190
Illinois	$45,840
New Jersey	$45,720
Pennsylvania	$45,660
Kentucky	$45,440
Ohio	$44,970
Florida	$44,810
Oklahoma	$44,370
Wyoming	$44,160
Indiana	$43,860
Tennessee	$43,810
Arizona	$43,540
West Virginia	$43,480
Montana	$43,230
Missouri	$43,160
North Carolina	$42,810
South Carolina	$40,900
Maine	$40,020
Mississippi	$39,640
Vermont	$39,460
Georgia	$38,680
Delaware	$37,610
South Dakota	$28,660

What Tools & Technology do Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians may use on a daily basis:

• Computer aided design CAD software
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Project
• ESRI ArcGIS software
• SAP
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Access

Who Employs Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians?

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being an Environmental Science, Protection, or Health Technician may also be interested in:

• Aviation Inspectors

Those who work as Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Forest and Conservation Technicians
• Surveying Technicians
• Museum Technicians and Conservators

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons