Environmental Field Technician Career Guide

What is an environmental field technician?

An environmental field technician is someone who helps us understand and protect nature. They work where science, technology, and important rules about the environment meet. These techs are super important because they collect the info that helps make big decisions about our planet. They help figure out things like how to deal with climate change and how to keep animals and plants safe.

Their main job is to collect samples—like dirt, water, or bits from plants and animals—and check them out to gather important data. This data helps make sure that the rules and policies about the environment are based on solid facts.

Duties and responsibilities

Environmental field technicians do a lot of different things:

• Collect samples from nature to analyze
• Take care of the tools and gear used to collect these samples
• Work in labs to study the samples more deeply
• Make sure safety and environment rules are followed
• Write reports about what they find for their bosses or other important people

Work environment

The places where environmental field technicians work can be pretty wild. They might trek through tough landscapes or face bad weather. This job needs you to be physically fit and ready for anything. These techs often work with scientists and other experts, using all sorts of cool tools, from simple gadgets to big machines. Sometimes, they also work inside labs.

Typical work hours

The hours can be all over the place. Sometimes, they have to work extra hours or on weekends if they’re collecting important data or if the weather is just right. Other times, they might have a regular day job in a lab or doing paperwork. They might even travel around the country or the world depending on what they need to do.

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How to become an environmental field technician

Becoming an environmental field technician means you get to work outside a lot and help protect the environment. Here’s how you can get started in this cool job:

Step 1: Finish high school

First things first, you need to graduate from high school. Pay extra attention to classes like biology, chemistry, physics, and geography. These subjects are super important because they give you the basics you need for this job.

Step 2: Go to college

Next, you should aim for at least a two-year college degree in something like environmental science or biology. If you go for a four-year degree, you might get even better job opportunities later. These programs teach you about collecting environmental samples and analyzing them.

Step 3: Gain field experience

Try to get as much real-world experience as you can. You could do internships, summer jobs, or even volunteer with groups that care about the environment. This not only gives you a taste of what the job is like but also helps you meet people who might help you find a job later.

Step 4: Get certified

Getting certifications can really boost your chances of getting a good job. Look for certifications like HAZWOPER or Certified Environmental Technician. These show you know your stuff and can handle the responsibilities of the job.

Step 5: Start applying for jobs

Once you’ve got your degree and some certifications, start looking for entry-level jobs as an environmental field technician. Don’t forget to ask the people you met during your internships or volunteering for help finding job openings.

Step 6: Keep learning

If you ever decide you want to move up and maybe become an environmental scientist or a project manager, you might need to go back to school for more advanced degrees like a master’s or even a Ph.D.

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How much do environmental field technicians make?

Compensation for environmental field technicians can vary greatly based on experience, industry, education, location, and organization size. Due to the high variability in working environments (which can range from office buildings to laboratories to outdoor field sites), their income may also be influenced by the inherent risks and challenges associated with a particular location or assignment.

Highest paying industries

• Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing: $63,890
• Architectural and Engineering: $61,920
• Federal Government: $60,270
• Scientific Research and Development Services: $58,750
• Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: $57,670

Browse environmental field technician salary data by market

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Types of environmental field technicians

If you’re interested in becoming an environmental field technician, there are several different kinds of jobs you can do. Each one focuses on a different part of protecting the environment:

Environmental sample collection technician

This job involves collecting samples from the environment, like soil, water, or air, and testing them in a lab to see if they’re contaminated. You might work in different places, from busy industrial sites to quiet natural areas. Knowing how to collect samples safely and understanding health and safety rules are super important.

Environmental monitoring specialist

If you like keeping an eye on things, this job could be for you. Environmental monitoring specialists check out what’s happening in the environment over time. They might count animals, see how plant life is doing, or notice changes in places where animals live. Using tech tools and software to track these changes is a big part of this job.

Environmental restoration planner

This role is all about fixing damaged parts of the environment. You need to know a lot about nature and how ecosystems work. Planning how to heal these areas involves working with scientists, government people, and locals to make the best plans.

Hazardous material remediation technician

This is a job for those who are careful and pay attention to detail. It involves cleaning up dangerous materials from places like old factories or areas where spills have happened. Safety is a huge deal here, and you need to know all about the rules for handling and getting rid of harmful stuff.

Wastewater technician

This technician works with dirty water to clean it up before it goes back into rivers or the ocean. They work at water treatment plants, making sure machines are running right, testing water to make sure it’s clean, and following rules to keep the environment safe.

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Top skills for environmental field technicians

Becoming an environmental field technician isn’t just about liking nature—it also means you need some important skills:

Knowing your science

It’s super important to know about environmental science, like how living things interact with each other and their surroundings, and a bit about chemicals and how they affect nature. This helps you understand and solve environmental problems.

Being tech-savvy

You’ll use some cool gadgets and computer programs to collect and look at data about the environment. Knowing how to handle this tech stuff is a must.

Solving problems

Things don’t always go as planned, especially when you’re working outdoors. You might have to figure out what to do if your equipment breaks or the weather changes suddenly. Being good at solving problems quickly is crucial.

Talking and writing clearly

You need to be able to explain what you find out in the field, both in writing and when talking. Sometimes, you’ll need to explain complicated stuff in a way that everyone can understand.

Paying attention to details

In this job, the little things really matter. You need to notice and keep track of small changes in the environment because they can mean big things.

Staying strong and healthy

You’ll be outdoors a lot, sometimes in tough conditions like heat, cold, or rain. Being physically fit will help you handle these challenges better.

Loving the environment

Really caring about nature and wanting to protect it makes this job more than just work. It’s about making a difference and helping the planet.

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Environmental field technician career path options

Starting as an environmental field technician opens up lots of exciting career paths as you gain more experience and learn more about the environment:

Specializing in specific areas

After starting out, you might decide to focus on a particular area like waste management, where you figure out how to handle trash and recycling better, or environmental consulting, where you give advice to companies on how to be more eco-friendly.

Moving up to bigger roles

With lots of experience and a deep understanding of environmental issues, you could become an environmental consultant or project manager. These jobs involve leading projects, guiding teams, and making big decisions. You’ll need to be really good at talking and working with different people, from team members to clients.

Becoming a scientist or researcher

If you love the science part of the job, you might go on to become an environmental scientist or researcher. These experts study environmental problems in depth and work a lot in labs analyzing data. Getting here usually means studying more, like getting a master’s degree or even a Ph.D.

Working in policy and regulation

If making laws and guidelines that protect the environment sounds interesting, you could end up working with government agencies or non-profits that focus on environmental policies. In these roles, you get to help make and enforce rules that keep our planet safe.

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Similar job titles

• Environmental Scientist
• Geologist
• Geotechnical Engineer
• Soil Technician
• GIS Specialist
• Marine Biologist
• Surveyor
• Environmental Engineer

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Position trends and outlook for environmental field technicians

As more people and governments realize how important it is to tackle climate change, jobs that help protect the environment are becoming more popular. This means more opportunities if you’re thinking about becoming an environmental field technician.

• Growing demand: Lots of different organizations, from small charities to big government agencies, are looking for people to fill these roles. The job market for technicians is expanding because more people are needed to help with environmental projects.
• Keeping up with tech: They use advanced software and tools to collect and analyze data about the environment. As these technologies improve, technicians need to learn new skills to stay up-to-date.

Employment projections

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for environmental science and protection technicians, which includes field technicians, is expected to grow by 6% through 2031. That’s faster than a lot of other jobs. So, it looks like there will be more and more need for people in this field in the coming years.

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Environmental field technician career tips

Safety first

This job can sometimes be risky because you might work with dangerous substances, tough terrains, or bad weather. Always make sure to follow safety rules, wear the right gear, and listen to advice about staying safe. Keeping yourself and your team safe is super important.

Keep up

Things change fast in the environmental field—new rules, new technologies, and new methods are always coming up. To be good at your job, you need to stay up-to-date. This might mean going to training sessions, joining groups that talk about environmental stuff, or just keeping up with the latest news.

Network with others

Knowing people in your field can really help you. They can give you advice, share their experiences, and sometimes even help you find job opportunities. Here are a few groups you might consider joining:

• American Association of Environmental Professionals (AAEP)
• The Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI)
• The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
• The Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS)

Never stop learning

Always be ready to learn more. You can take online classes about things like mapping (GIS), water science (hydrology), or earth science (geology). Getting certifications can also help you learn new things and show others that you know your stuff.

Write great reports

A big part of this job is to collect data, figure out what it means, and write reports about it. Being able to write clearly and effectively is a must. Your reports help others understand what you’ve found and what should be done next.

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FAQs