Careers / Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$55,090

United States, 2025

Employment

34,670

United States, 2025

Typical education

Bachelor's Degree

Job Zone 4

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

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.

O*NET code
19-4042.00
Job zone
4
Experience required
None

Typical tasks

  • 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.
  • Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
  • Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.
  • Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$38,170
10th
$45,820
25th
$55,090
Median
$69,910
75th
$94,160
90th

10th percentile

$38,170

25th percentile

$45,820

75th percentile

$69,910

90th percentile

$94,160

Most important skills

  • Reading Comprehension4.0
  • Writing3.9
  • Active Listening3.9
  • Speaking3.9
  • Critical Thinking3.8
  • Monitoring3.4
  • Science3.4
  • Complex Problem Solving3.3
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.3
  • Active Learning3.1
  • Mathematics3.1
  • Systems Analysis3.1

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 19 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

19

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Reading Comprehension4.04.1Not selected4.1
Writing3.94.0Not selected4.0
Active Listening3.94.0Not selected4.0
Speaking3.94.0Not selected4.0
Critical Thinking3.83.8Not selected3.8
Monitoring3.43.8Not selected3.8
Science3.43.4Not selected3.4
Complex Problem Solving3.33.5Not selected3.5
Judgment and Decision Making3.33.3Not selected3.3
Active Learning3.13.1Not selected3.1
Mathematics3.13.1Not selected3.1
Systems Analysis3.13.1Not selected3.1
Time Management3.03.1Not selected3.1
Learning Strategies3.03.1Not selected3.1
Social Perceptiveness3.03.1Not selected3.1
Systems Evaluation3.03.1Not selected3.1
Coordination3.03.0Not selected3.0
Service Orientation3.03.0Not selected3.0
Operations Monitoring3.02.9Not selected2.9

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
San Luis Obispo, CA$90,720402025
Duluth, MN$89,040502025
San Francisco, CA$80,8406902025
Augusta, GA$77,860902025
Fresno, CA$77,8404002025
Redding, CA$77,650402025
Visalia, CA$77,390302025
Kiryas Joel, NY$74,4101002025
Santa Rosa, CA$74,170802025
Albuquerque, NM$70,6002302025
Modesto, CA$69,900902025
San Jose, CA$68,9001602025
Reno, NV$67,880502025
Boise City, ID$67,6801102025
Minneapolis, MN$67,6302002025
WA$67,1608502025
Charlottesville, VA$66,830702025
Santa Maria, CA$66,340902025
NE$66,2401402025
Omaha, NE$66,240802025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

Build a transition comparison

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.