Environmental science skills can be applied in a variety of industries, and that can be fascinating, but also overwhelming for a student, recent graduate, or someone looking to make a career change. Stressed out, you may try to Google “environmental science jobs” to identify entry level jobs possibilities. Some websites will present fantastical ideas, like becoming a meteorologist, environmental lawyer, or zoologist. These are great careers, but I can guarantee that you will not get hired as lawyer or meteorologist with just a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science. So, I’ve selected 20 jobs that are actually achievable with a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science. Some of them may not be anyone’s idea of a dream job, but they can pay the bills, build your resume, and give you work experience that sets you apart from other graduates. Once you secure that first professional job, you are well on your way to a successful career!
1) Environmental Scientist – Wetlands and Waterways
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act established federal jurisdiction over waters of the United States, including some wetlands. Additionally, many states and municipalities have their own legislative protections for wetlands and waterways. Therefore, the boundary of protected wetlands or waterways can be vital information in site development or construction planning. Identifying the boundary of a wetland is known as wetland delineation, and these delineations rely on a professional’s knowledge of wetland plants, soils, and hydrology. These three indicators are used to determine whether an area is a wetland or not. Waterways, on the other hand, are typically delineated at their ordinary high water mark. Put simply, the delineator finds the highest point in a stream channel where surface water is typically found. This is identified by the presence of erosion, vegetation, and other characteristics.
Wetland delineations are a core service for many consulting firms, and environmental scientist positions in this field involve a mixture of field work, background research, and report writing. Wetland experts might also be involved in wetland construction or monitoring. Ecology, chemistry, botany, soil science, hydrology, statistics, and GIS knowledge are all helpful in securing a job as an environmental scientist specializing in wetland and waterways. Moreover, there are wetland specialists in government agencies to oversee wetland protections and permitting programs.
2) Environmental Scientist – Waste Sites
Another popular side of environmental regulation and consulting deals with hazardous waste sites. There are two main sides to waste site work, site assessments and remediation. Environmental site assessments are a bread-and-butter service for many consulting firms, and environmental science graduates could be put to work conducting Phase I or Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs).
Phase I ESAs are typically conducted prior to real estate transactions or site development. These ESAs involve researching property history, interviewing site owners, reviewing relevant environmental records, and visiting the site. Phase I ESAs do not involve any environmental sampling. The site reconnaissance is purely visual in nature, and the professional identifies any evidence of contamination or conditions that could lead to contamination, like storage tanks containing hazardous materials. If additional assessment is recommended after a Phase I ESA, a Phase II ESA could be conducted. Phase II ESAs involve sampling of soil, groundwater, surface water, or soil vapors to determine the presence and extent of any possible contamination.
If contamination is identified at a site, a remediation investigation, contamination modeling, composition of a remedial action plan, the engineering of a remedial treatment system, and/or ongoing environmental monitoring might be required. Environmental scientists can participate in any part of waste site work, but they may need to be supervised by a professional engineer or professional geologist if engineering design or geological characterization work is required. Biology, chemistry, physics, math, geology, and hydrology knowledge are all very relevant to environmental scientists in this field.
As mentioned previously, consulting firms are frequently hired for waste site work, but companies, like a gas/electric utility or large manufacturer, may have their own in-house staff to oversee site remediation. Government agencies can also employ environmental scientists to oversee federal and state remediation regulations and programs. Furthermore, banks can employ environmental staff to oversee environmental risk assessment and review environmental site assessments, as banks are a major participant in real estate transactions. However, entry level positions will most likely be found at consulting firms or state environmental agencies.
3) Environmental Compliance Specialist
Environmental compliance specialists can be employed by consulting firms or by companies who must meet significant regulatory requirements. In industry, job duties likely include conducting environmental audits and being a liaison with regulatory agencies. Specific duties can range from overseeing an underground storage tank (UST) compliance program for a chain of gas stations, to preparing air quality permits, to managing hazardous and non-hazardous waste for a power plant, or to administering water and wastewater treatment compliance at a manufacturing facility. Consulting firms specializing in environmental compliance engage in similar tasks, but work for multiple companies and facilities at once. Consultants assist with, manage, and/or audit their clients’ environmental programs.
Environmental compliance specialist can have huge responsibility at large or complicated facilities, and environmental departments at a company can range from one employee to dozens. Entry level positions will likely be found in consulting or at large companies with bigger departments, so that senior specialists can delegate and oversee junior level employees. Outside of environmental science, classes in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, math, industrial hygiene, business management, safety management, and environmental policy are all very relevant to environmental compliance.
4) Environmental, Health, and Safety Specialist
There is a lot of overlap between environmental compliance specialist and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) specialists. This position results from many companies combining their environmental compliance programs with their employee safety programs, putting EHS specialists in charge of overseeing both. Environmental duties will look similar to environmental compliance specialists, and require EHS specialists to supervise environmental compliance with air, waste, storage tank, stormwater, wastewater, and other environmental regulations. The safety side of the job can include responsibilities such as maintaining safety records, safety reporting, conducting safety training, investigating accidents and developing corrective actions, and analyzing job duties for safety risks. EHS can also include area such as industrial hygiene, emergency planning, risk management, or fire safety. As you can see, EHS specialists have a huge job with a lot of responsibility.
Again, entry level jobs will likely be found at EHS consulting firms or at larger companies that have senior staff who can delegate and supervise junior level employees. General experience in manufacturing or construction can be helpful in landing a job, as experience in those environments gives an applicant insight into industry operations and safety concerns. Relevant subjects other than environmental science include biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, public health, math, industrial hygiene, safety management, environmental policy, human resources, and business management.
5) Environmental Regulatory Specialist
Environmental regulations have a huge and far-reaching impact, and environmental regulatory specialists do the day-to-day work at state and federal environmental agencies. They may conduct inspections of facilities to determine compliance with regulations or review permits. Regulatory specialists can also work directly with the public to explain environmental regulations, and work with violators to bring their facilities into compliance. Furthermore, they might investigate environmental incidents, such as releases of hazardous material, or perform environmental monitoring of waterways or contaminated sites. Typically, environmental regulatory specialists specialize in a specific environmental media, such as water, air, or waste regulatory programs.
6) Environmental Planner – NEPA
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a fundamental law for environmental consultants and environmental staff within state and federal agencies. NEPA requires that all federal agencies evaluate the environmental impact of their actions. In other words, when a project is initiated or funded by a federal agency, the environmental effects of that project must be identified and a publicly available environmental document, such as an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), must be composed.
Environmental documents that discuss significant environmental effects, such as an EA or EIS, can be hundreds (or even thousands) of pages long. Environmental planners, scientists, ecologists, engineers, historians, archaeologists, GIS analysts, and other experts work together to analyze impacts, plan project alternatives, conduct public involvement, and compose the document. According to a 2003 report from the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, a typical EIS costs about $250,000 to $2 million. State laws, such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), can also regulate environmental impacts for state agency activities. Due to the scope of NEPA, many government agencies will have environmental staff to oversee NEPA activities and review documents, but will contract with consulting firms to compose the environmental documents. There are multiple routes into working with NEPA; Environmental planners/scientists may do much of the writing and analysis, but subject matter experts such ecologists, geologists, acoustical scientists, and GIS analysts are also important in the NEPA process. These specialists may also have environmental backgrounds.
7) Environmental Inspector
There’s a common theme with environmental careers: where there are direct applications of environmental regulation, there are environmental jobs. It’s no different in construction, where regulations govern erosion and sediment controls, wetland and waterway impacts, endangered species, cultural resources, habitat restoration, and other issues. Environmental inspectors are the on-site personnel who conduct monitoring and report on these issues during construction. Erosion and sediment controls are the most salient topic for inspectors, as construction projects with any significant earth disturbance will require them. These controls keep eroded soil on a site, preventing it from washing into nearby waterways. You’ve likely seen these controls before on construction sites, and they can include silt fences (fences made of synthetic filtration fabric), silt socks (fabric socks filled with wood chips/compost), and hay, to name a few.
These erosion and sediment controls have to be regularly inspected to ensure effectiveness and compliance. Some environmental inspectors may inspect erosion and sediment controls at multiple construction sites, or they could work for a local environmental agency that ensures construction sites comply with local or state regulations. Environmental inspectors on larger projects, such as a pipeline or electric power transmission line, will likely encounter a wider variety of environmental topics. These inspectors may need to flag and oversee wetland boundaries, monitor wildlife, supervise reseeding, oversee hazardous spill response, or train construction staff on environmental awareness topics. Environmental inspecting is a combination of environmental science, construction, and engineering skills, and it may involve significant travel and field work, but it’s an excellent way to build an environmental skillset.
8) Environmental (Public) Health Specialist
Local, state, and federal public health regulations govern various facilities, and environmental health specialists are employed by local and state agencies to enforce these standards. Environmental health specialists may perform routine compliance inspections of food establishments, schools, child care facilities, campgrounds, public water systems, solid waste facilities, hotels, septic tank systems, pools, and water wells, among many others. They may also hold roles in sampling of food/water contamination, controlling diseases vectors like mosquitos or rodents, or investigating public complaints about health or environmental violations. Furthermore, many specialists review and approve plans for construction of wastewater systems, public pools, and food establishments.
These specialists play an important role in maintaining public health and safety. While specific degrees for environmental health exist, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, you can be competitive for an environmental health specialist job with a degree in environmental science, biology, or similar fields. Classes in biology, chemistry, soils, geology, health sciences, and industrial hygiene would be helpful.
9) Park Ranger
If you enjoy being outdoors and helping the public, you’ve probably considered being a park ranger. Park ranger duties can be varied, including assisting the public, performing park maintenance, managing wildlife, conducting environmental education, and enforcing park rules. It’s a dream job for many, and landing a position with the National Park Service is extremely competitive. However, securing a position as a park ranger with a local or state agency can be much more manageable. Classes in natural resources, environmental studies, education, criminal justice, and parks and recreation management can all be helpful in securing a park ranger job. Prior experience working with the public will also be an asset.
10) Sustainability Analyst
Sustainability is a hot field right now, with a lot of interest in the field from companies and students. However, it can be challenging to land an entry level position in sustainability. Entry level sustainability analysts positions often mix data analysis skills with knowledge of energy, business, and environmental issues. Job responsibilities can include implementing environmental surveys of suppliers and manufacturers, analyzing business management data to evaluate progress towards impact reduction targets, and communicating with stakeholders about sustainability issues. These duties would be in line with an in-house or consultant job that works with a manufacturing or retail company. Other sustainability jobs can be more energy focused, with responsibilities like implementing energy efficiency measures, tracking energy data, and setting energy goals for a facility. This can also include performing life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), being a subject matter expert in energy aspects of building operation, and managing energy audits and LEED recertification.
Those who aspire to be entry level sustainability analysts should be as prepared for the job market as possible after graduation. Relevant internships, employment, and volunteer experiences will be essential. There is also the possibility of securing employment in a more general business position, and moving into a sustainability position later with the same employer. Relevant experience could be in a variety of fields, such as business, real estate, engineering, energy, public outreach, or data analysis. Relevant coursework includes environmental science/studies, sustainability, business, math, construction management, architecture, and engineering. Certification as a LEED Green Associate may also be helpful.
11) Wastewater/Water Treatment Operator
Water and wastewater treatment operations are in the background of everyday life, most people don’t give it much thought. However, this fact doesn’t make the field any less essential or widespread. The duties of water and wastewater treatment operators include performing routine maintenance for the treatment plant, monitoring and controlling the treatment process, calculating chemical feed dosages, and performing sampling to ensure that treatment is compliant with federal and state standards. Operators are typically employed at publicly owned or contracted treatment facilities that service the public. However, manufacturing plants, colleges, and other large facilities with significant water demands may own treatment plants and employ operators.
Pay is not extremely lucrative as an operator, but it can provide a solid middle class living, as well as opportunities for advancement into plant supervision. The positions can also provide skills that may be leveraged in environmental compliance or consulting positions. There are often multiple classes of state licensure for operators that can be achieved as well, with pay increases for each one. It’s a stable jobs, but many plants must be manned 24/7, which can involve night, weekend, and holiday shifts. Only a high school education is required to be an operator, but college education in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or engineering can give you an upper hand in the hiring process. It’s not a glamorous job, but being an operator provides job stability and facilitates an important public service.
12) Utility Forester/Arborist
Graduates with an environmental degree may feel passionately about protecting plants. If that’s you, a job as a utility forester is likely not for you. However, it is an excellent way to develop field skills in tree identification, vegetation management, and data collection. Utility foresters/arborists often work for companies that contract with electric providers to manage trees along their power distribution lines. Trees can be a significant hazard to power lines and create power outages, so it’s an essential task. Utility foresters/arborists are tasked with identifying trees and evaluating whether trimming is necessary along a power line. They may also be required to coordinate tree clearance activities and negotiate tree trimming access issues with property owners. Additionally, other duties could include collecting GIS/GPS tree management data, auditing tree trimming to ensure compliance with client standards, and discussing tree and power line concerns with property owners.
Utility forestry is not a high paying career, and starting salaries are quite low. However, foresters will earn experience towards certifications, such as the ISA Arborist, and could move into project management or supervisory roles. Additionally, utility forester experience can be utilized to land potions in more attractive arborist specialties, such as urban forestry, and plant identification skills can help when interviewing for environmental consultant positions. Utility foresters could also pursue a career path as a consulting arborist. Education in biology, chemistry, GIS, botany, forestry, and horticulture would be helpful in attaining a utility forester position.
13) Lab Technician
Commercial labs service a range of industries, including pharmaceutical, food, and environmental clients. Lab technicians in commercial labs provide these services and carry out a wide range of tests using microbiology analysis, gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, and wet chemistry techniques. Duties also include maintaining equipment, reporting results, and organizing batches of samples. Clients rely on these lab tests to determine compliance with the environmental regulations, detect contamination, and monitor remediation activities.
Lab technician positions are not the most lucrative, and can require night and weekend shifts. Thus, turnover of these positions can be high. However, inside knowledge of laboratory testing can be a great resume builder if you are seeking positions in environmental consulting or environmental compliance. Employers that regularly send samples to commercial labs can benefit from an individual who has a strong understanding of how testing works, what tests to use, how much tests cost, and how long testing takes. It’s no guarantee, but lab experience will be looked at much more favorably than unrelated job experience. Promotion opportunities are also available within laboratories in testing supervision, project management, and business development. Laboratories look to hire individuals with a strong background in the sciences, particularly biology, chemistry, and environmental science.
14) Industrial Hygiene Technician
According to the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, industrial hygiene is the “science of protecting and enhancing the health and safety of people at work and in their communities”. It is a noble profession, and industrial hygiene technicians carry out this mission on a very basic level. Industrial hygiene technicians are employed by companies or consultants to perform on-site assessments of media, such as indoor air quality, asbestos, and lead-based paint. They may conduct field screenings, collect samples, and monitor contractors during hazardous material abatement projects. They may also monitor the effectiveness of filtration systems, perform respirator fit-testing, and perform worker exposure assessments.
Industrial hygiene technicians are entry level field positions, so the pay is not great. However, an employer will likely pay for trainings in hazardous materials and certifications for asbestos and lead paint sampling/inspections, which is a plus. Industrial hygiene technicians can also build experience towards the Certified Industrial Hygienist credential and pursue a career in industrial hygiene, earning more as you take on more technical and senior roles. Industrial hygiene experience can also be used to pursue broader environmental consulting roles or jobs in environmental health and safety. Education in biology, chemistry, physics, math, environmental science, engineering, safety, and industrial hygiene would be helpful in landing a job as an industrial hygiene technician.
15) Hazardous Waste Technician
Hazardous wastes are more prevalent in society than you might normally think. Gas stations, auto repair shops, pharmacies, laboratories, manufacturers, commercial printers, hospitals, universities, and other facilities can produce hazardous wastes. Careless disposal of hazardous wastes can cause significant damage to the environment and public health, so regulations such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) dictate how hazardous waste must be managed and disposed. Hazardous waste technicians carry out hazardous waste management and disposal at the ground level.
Specific job duties will depend on where the technician is employed. Many hazardous waste technicians are employed by environmental and industrial service providers, who dispose of hazardous waste on behalf of their clients. These technicians are responsible for segregating and packaging hazardous waste for transport, cleaning up releases of hazardous materials, and/or cleaning storage tanks. Technicians can also work directly for manufacturers, laboratories, or other facilities to directly collect and manage hazardous wastes and respond to hazardous releases.
Hazardous waste technicians have a physically demanding job and potentially dangerous job. They may also be required to be on-call 24/7 to respond to hazardous waste releases. The 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) and/or other related trainings must be taken by technicians. Employers will pay for these trainings for technicians hired without them. Technicians can be promoted into supervisory, project management, business development, or broader environmental compliance and environmental health and safety positions. Experience with hazardous waste may also be attractive to broader environmental consulting or environmental regulatory positions. Education in environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, and safety are attractive to employers.
16) GIS Technician
GIS usage has become widespread in engineering firms, state and local governments, utility providers, and geospatial firms. These organizations hire GIS technicians to collect, analyze, and map GIS data. This can include collecting GPS data of attributes associated with water, wastewater, electric, or other fixed assets; creating and maintaining GIS mapping applications for a government agency; or scanning and georeferencing physical documents. Duties are also likely to include database management, data editing, data analysis, or data interpretation. Esri, and its ArcGIS platform, is the most commonly used GIS software, but other GIS software may be used.
Many environmental programs now require specific coursework in GIS. Education in environmental science, math, GIS, geography, computer science, and engineering can be helpful. Specific knowledge of ArcGIS and ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Model Builder, Arc GIS Server, remote sensing, SQL, and the Python programming language are useful to a GIS technician. GIS technicians can move into more senior management or analyst positions, or develop their programming skills and become a GIS developer. Work experience with GIS may also be useful in securing a more general environmental consulting position if you have an environmental science degree.
17) Conservation Technician
There are many ways for environmental graduates to get involved in conservation, and technician jobs come in many forms. Wildlife positions may involve monitoring and removing invasive species or assisting in the reintroduction of an endangered species. State and local agencies often employ technician-level employees to suppress pests too, like mosquitos. Forest technician positions might involve tree planting projects, vegetation suppression projects, and wildlife habitat conservation projects. Soil and waterway conservation positions may require providing technical assistance and outreach to land owners, coordinating public education, inspecting farms and land development sites for best management practices, and applying for and managing grants.
I’ve compiled these duties into one job title, despite the large variety, because they are similar in their professional nature. They are low paying, sometimes temporary, and develop very specific skills. These technician positions do have the potential to move into more senior level technical positions, or the experience can be used to move into regulatory, consulting, or conservation management positions. Skills gained in vegetation, wildlife identification, or soil best management practices can be valuable. Technician positions may be excellent entry level jobs for young professionals without a family to support.
18) Air Quality Technician – Stack Emission Testing
Stack emission testing is a niche field, but technicians have the opportunity to grow into other positions. Air quality technicians provide air pollution compliance and diagnostic emissions testing for clients who release air pollutants. These clients must monitor their emissions to maintain compliance with their permits and state and federal regulations. Technicians will be required to learn EPA testing methodologies and be able to operate and maintain stack testing equipment. They may also collect and transport air samples or utilize mobile laboratory equipment. Technicians should be comfortable working off the ground, as emission testing can require technicians to climb stairs and ladders to reach emission sources, and with very frequent travel. Overnight work will likely be required on a regular basis.
However, air quality technicians can grow into subject matter experts in emission testing and air quality, and move into roles responsible for air quality permitting and compliance or into project management. Air quality experience can also be leveraged into broader environmental consulting or government agency roles. Stack emission testing can be a demanding job, but it’s an excellent position for gaining field experience and getting your foot into the environmental industry.
19) Environmental Educator
Environmental education isn’t the best paying field, but it can be extremely rewarding. Environmental educators can work for non-profits, museums, schools, and parks. Educators working with non-profits, parks, and museums may manage volunteers or citizen science programs, create public educational materials, and directly teach members of the public about natural resources. Environmental educators that work directly for schools may plan an environmental curriculum, teach students, and plan field trips. However, some public schools may require environmental educators to have teaching certifications.
Environmental education positions can be seasonal, temporary, or part-time, and these may not provide a sustainable income. But volunteer management, public outreach, and educational programming are all valuable skills which can improve your resume and provide talking points during job interviews. These skills can assist in securing other positions in non-profits, government agencies, or consulting firms.
20) Construction Inspector/Engineering Technician
Building experience at an engineering firm and with construction projects is a fine way to start your professional career. Construction inspectors are on-site construction personnel, often representing engineering design and consulting firms. Inspectors monitor and document construction activities, including inspection and material testing of roadways, bridges, drainage systems, earthwork, and erosion and sediment controls. Specific material testing can include soil compaction testing, concrete sampling, structural steel inspection, and asphalt testing. Inspectors ensure quality control of construction projects and make sure that projects conform to the engineering plans and to applicable standards and regulations. Engineering technicians could also be assigned to assist in surveying, GIS, or other tasks within the engineering firm from time to time.
Inspectors may work as many as 10 or 12 hours per day during construction season. This can be exhausting, but inspectors typically receive increased overtime rates, so it can be lucrative as well. However, during the winter when construction slows down, inspector are likely to get laid off. Inspectors can get various certifications in materials testing, and grow into inspector supervision or construction management positions. They also build general experience on a construction site and expertise reviewing engineering plans, construction processes, and erosion and sediment controls. This experience can be leveraged into environmental positions at engineering firms, as environmental jobs at these firms often deal with permitting, compliance, and planning for construction projects. Therefore, direct experience in construction can be appealing. Construction inspection and engineering technician openings often look for education in engineering, construction management, physics, geology, and environmental science.
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Of course, there are so many possibilities in the environmental field, and this list only identifies a handful of entry level jobs. If your interest in environmental careers is piqued, you should check out my post about environmental certifications and licenses. Many of the careers listed above have respected certifications, such as the AICP for environmental planners, the REHS/RS for environmental health specialists, or the PWS for wetland professionals. It’s never too early to plan for your career!
Already applying for your first environmental job? You might want to check out my tips and templates for resumes and cover letters.