Foresters
Median wage · national
$76,400
Range: $63K – $92K
Employed
10K
Openings/yr
900
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians earn $55,090 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $45,820 and $69,910. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a environmental science and protection technicians: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Natural Resources Conservation and Research and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
- Median Wage
- $55,090
- Employed Nationally
- 35K
- Openings / Year
- 5,300
- Entry Education
- Associate's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Air Analyst
Air Pollution Auditor
Air Quality Technician (Air Quality Tech)
Analytical Lab Tech (Analytical Laboratory Technician)
Asbestos Abatement Technician (Asbestos Abatement Tech)
How Much Do Environmental Science and Protection Technicians Make?
Most environmental science and protection technicians take home around $55,090 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $45,820 and $69,910, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$55,090
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$46K–$70K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$45,820
Entry-level
$55,090
Median
$69,910
Experienced
What Do Environmental Science and Protection Technicians Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Environmental Science and Protection Technicians Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +6.9%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 5,300 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +6.9%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
5,300
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
35K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Environmental Science and Protection Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $55,090 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 6,010 | $61,220 | +11.1% |
| 2 | Texas | 3,350 | $50,710 | -8.0% |
| 3 | Florida | 2,090 | $48,840 | -11.3% |
| 4 | New York | 1,960 | $62,400 | +13.3% |
| 5 | Virginia | 1,450 | $49,430 | -10.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a associate's degree. The 9 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Chemistry program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Associate's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 23,672 | $55,012 | 1,078 |
| 2 | Chemistry | 19,976 | $65,120 | 1,380 |
| 3 | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 8,781 | $66,185 | 357 |
| 4 | Sustainability Studies | 4,382 | $57,887 | 263 |
| 5 | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | 2,688 | — | 96 |
| 6 | Science Technologies/Technicians | 2,436 | $68,416 | 82 |
| 7 | Pharmacology | 1,179 | $68,883 | 130 |
| 8 | Geography and Environmental Studies | 809 | $55,678 | 45 |
| 9 | Environmental Geosciences | 102 | — | 15 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Environmental Science and Protection Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians Pros & Cons
The data on Environmental Science and Protection Technicians shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $55,090 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +6.9% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a associate's degree, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $55,090 median while building the experience employers require.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Environmental Science and Protection Technicians professionals earn?
Around $55,090 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $45,820 and $69,910. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Environmental Science and Protection Technicians a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $55,090 median, with +6.9% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to work as Environmental Science and Protection Technicians?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A associate's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Natural Resources Conservation and Research are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $55,090 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians?
Employment is projected to change by +6.9% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 5,300 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 35K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Environmental Science and Protection Technicians professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
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- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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