Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-2041.00

$80,060median annual wage, May 2024

84,930people employed, United States

▲ 4.4%projected change, 2024→2034

8,500openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 64% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$102,420	3,390
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$83,510	3,110
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$109,520	2,780
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$101,540	2,530
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$96,990	2,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$98,950	2,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$110,240	1,630
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$91,160	1,350
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$79,520	1,350
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$75,850	1,280
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	$95,680	1,230
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	$92,540	1,190

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.
Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
Investigate and report on accidents affecting the environment.
Develop the technical portions of legal documents, administrative orders, or consent decrees.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension4.0

Active Listening4.0

Writing4.0

Speaking4.0

Science4.0

Critical Thinking3.9

Active Learning3.8

Monitoring3.6

Mathematics3.2

Learning Strategies3.2

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Acrobat●Adobe Illustrator●Autodesk AutoCAD●Bentley MicroStation●C++●ESRI ArcGIS software●IBM SPSS Statistics●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft Visual Basic●Microsoft Word●SAP software●Structured query language SQL●ADMS pollution modeling softwareCAP88-PCCERC EMITChemical management tracking softwareChemicals and Irrigation CANDICompass softwareCorel CorelDraw Graphics SuiteDQO ELIPGRID-PCDataPipe EHSDatabase softwareESRI ArcInfo

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.7 below average

Spend Time Sitting+1.3 above average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable−1.2 below average

Spend Time Standing−1.2 below average

Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment−0.9 below average

E-Mail+0.9 above average

Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body−0.9 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2023-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree47%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)21%

Master's Degree14%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.13%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2023-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Investigative7.0

Realistic4.8

Conventional4.3

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving4.0

Coordination3.6

Judgment and Decision Making3.2

Time Management3.2

Management of Personnel Resources3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.1

Instructing3.1

Service Orientation3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

English LanguageBiologyCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsPublic Safety and Security

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningOral ExpressionWritten Expression

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Air AnalystEnvironmentalistEcological ModelerEnvironmental AnalystEnvironmental PlannerEnvironmental DesignerEnvironmental ScientistHealth EnvironmentalistEnvironmental ConsultantEnvironmental SpecialistWater Pollution ScientistPollution Control ChemistWater Pollution SpecialistNatural Resources Specialist

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 7 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 7

+IBM SPSS Statistics+Microsoft SharePoint Server+Adobe Acrobat+Geographic information system GIS systems+DataPipe EHS+Adobe Illustrator+SmugMug Flickr

No longer listed 9

−FacTS software−DataPipe software−Spreadsheet software−SPSS software−EarthWon software−Waters eLab Notebook−Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator−Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS−Oracle software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Air AnalystEnvironmentalistMarine ScientistRegulatory AnalystEcological ModelerClinical ResearcherEnvironmental PlannerEnvironmental AnalystEnvironmental DesignerCompliance CoordinatorHealth EnvironmentalistEnvironmental Scientist

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
environmental expert	2143.2	exact
environmental protection manager	1349.13	exact
environmental scientist	2133.7	exact
environmental programme coordinator	2133.6	close
airport environment officer	2133.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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