Environmental Compliance Inspectors Career, Salary and Skills
Environmental Compliance Inspectors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $80,730 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 417,070. Wage data is published for 445 locations.
Occupation description
Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.
O*NET code
13-1041.01
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$80,730
Hourly median
$38.81
Employment
417,070
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$48,220
10th
$61,280
25th
$80,730
Median
$109,010
75th
$133,720
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 4.38 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.38 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Prepare, organize, and maintain inspection records.
- Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
- Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
- Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
- Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
- Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
- Learn and observe proper safety precautions, rules, regulations, and practices so that unsafe conditions can be recognized and proper safety protocols implemented.
- Determine the nature of code violations and actions to be taken, and issue written notices of violation, participating in enforcement hearings, as necessary.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Database software
- DQO-PRO
- Environmental Knowledge and Assessment Tool EKAT
- Field Operations and Records Management System (FORMS) II Lite
- Fully Integrated Environmental Location Decision Support FIELDS
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- HRS Quickscore
- Mass Flux Toolkit
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Environmental Compliance Inspectors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in CAMedian $96,980 · Employment 49,880
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in TXMedian $75,370 · Employment 42,900
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in FLMedian $74,920 · Employment 29,680
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in NYMedian $90,080 · Employment 23,500
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in New York, NYMedian $101,050 · Employment 23,380
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in PAMedian $85,580 · Employment 19,810
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $94,810 · Employment 17,700
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in VAMedian $80,380 · Employment 15,190
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in GAMedian $70,200 · Employment 14,390
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in Washington, DCMedian $100,200 · Employment 13,820
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in NJMedian $100,000 · Employment 13,310
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors Salary in MAMedian $102,060 · Employment 13,190
Related careers
- Security Management SpecialistsNational median $83,050
- Water/Wastewater EngineersNational median $100,840
- Water Resource SpecialistsNational median $167,220
- Compliance OfficersNational median $80,730
- Industrial EcologistsNational median $82,220
- Agricultural InspectorsNational median $49,940
- Conservation ScientistsNational median $73,010
- Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansNational median $61,560
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.