Environmental Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Environmental engineers design, build, and maintain systems to control waste streams produced by municipalities or private industry. Such waste streams may be wastewater, solid waste, hazardous waste, or contaminated emissions to the atmosphere (air pollution). Some environmental engineers study ways to minimize the effects of automobile emissions, acid rain, global warming, and ozone depletion. They also address "big picture" issues such as climate change, environmental sustainability, and water conservation. Environmental engineer...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reports that median annual earnings of environmental engineers were $87,620 in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $53,180 for the lowest paid 10 percent to more than $137,090 for the highest paid 10 percent. The DOL reports the following mean annual earnings by employer:
- federal government: $103,240
- architectural, engineering, and r...
Work Environment
Environmental engineers split their time between working in an office and working out in the field. Since ongoing education is crucial in most of these positions, engineers must attend training sessions and workshops and study new regulations, techniques, and problems. They usually work as part of a team that may include any of a number of different specialists. Engineers must also give present...
Outlook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that employment for environmental engineers will grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2028. Engineers will be needed to devise strategies to clean up existing hazards and help companies comply with government regulations. Employment will also grow as local and state governments rely on engineers to help increase the effici...
