Environmental Technician job description

An associate's degree is what BLS gives for entry, the lowest formal bar in environmental work, and BLS notes that OSHA hazardous waste training is often required on top of it, with licensing varying by state. Technicians inspect facilities and public spaces for hazards, set up and maintain monitoring equipment, collect and analyze air, soil, and water samples, write up findings, and check regulatory compliance. The days split between office, laboratory, and field site, with equipment to carry and weather to work in. BLS counted 36,400 technicians in 2025, projects 7 percent growth, and reported median pay of $55,090 for May 2025, $26.49 an hour, with local government paying $64,070.