Occupation Summary

Environmental Engineers

O*NET 17-2081.00

Description:

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

Annual Wages:
$118,656.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 21.59%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
STEM

  1. Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
  2. Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
  3. Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
  4. Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
  5. Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
  6. Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties.
  7. Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
  8. Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
  9. Advise industries or government agencies about environmental policies and standards.
  10. Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues.
  11. Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
  12. Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration.
  13. Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
  14. Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work.
  15. Serve as liaison with federal, state, or local agencies or officials on issues pertaining to solid or hazardous waste program requirements.
  16. Prepare hazardous waste manifests or land disposal restriction notifications.
  17. Develop or present environmental compliance training or orientation sessions.
  18. Develop, implement, or manage plans or programs related to conservation or management of natural resources.
  19. Assess, sort, characterize, or pack known or unknown materials.
  20. Request bids from suppliers or consultants.
  21. Provide environmental engineering assistance in network analysis, regulatory analysis, or planning or reviewing database development.
  22. Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
  23. Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
  24. Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.
  25. Write reports or articles for Web sites or newsletters related to environmental engineering issues.
  26. Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
  27. Provide assistance with planning, quality assurance, safety inspection protocols, or sampling as part of a team conducting multimedia inspections at complex facilities.
  28. Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
  29. Attend professional conferences to share information.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Environmental Engineers employed Annual Growth Rate
Architectural, engineering, and related services 30.1 0.48
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 19.8 1.11
Remediation and other waste management services 2.5 1.55


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $57.05
2024 National average hourly wage $53.16
2022 National employment 47,300
2022 Texas employment 2,478
Texas projected employment by 2032 3,013
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 228




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
99.00%
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
92.40%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
81.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
80.00%
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
77.20%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
76.20%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
75.20%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
72.40%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
72.40%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
72.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
80.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
77.60%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
77.60%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
75.00%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
75.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Fluency of Ideas
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
75.00%
Originality
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
72.40%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
72.40%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Analyzing Data or Information
    -- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

Air samplers or collectors: Sampling trains;

Air sampling pumps: Sampling pumps;

Air velocity and temperature monitors: Air velocity meters; Ambient air measurement devices; Nitrogen oxide burners;

Anaerobic chamber: Anaerobic growth chambers;

Atomic absorption AA spectrometers: Atomic absorption AA spectrometers; Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers;

Atomizers: Mercury/hybrid atomizers;

Augers: Stem augers;

Autosamplers: Headspace autosamplers;

Bacteria transformation kits: Chemostats;

Bench refractometers or polarimeters: Interferometeric refractormeters;

Benchtop centrifuges: Centrifuges;

Chemical absorption gas analyzers: Surface area analyzers;

Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers: Microbics toxicity analyzers; Fluorescence detectors;

Chromatographic detectors: Liquid chromatography detectors; Ultraviolet UV light detectors;

Colorimeters: Colorimeters;

Conductivity meters: Conductivity meters; Soil electrical conductivity measurement devices;

Core drills: Core drill rigs; Limnological coring drills;

Density gradient fractionators: Universal fractionators;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Dissolution or disintegration testers: Soil modulus failure testing devices; Soil-erodability testing devices;

Dissolved carbon dioxide analyzers: Respirometers;

Dissolved oxygen meters: Dissolved oxygen meters;

Electrometers: Electron capture detectors ECD;

Electronic counters: Particle counters;

Electronic measuring probes: Individual burner air measurement IBAM probes; Environmental probe systems;

Extracting equipment for laboratories: Supercritical fluid extractors;

Filtering machinery: Particulate filters;

Flame ionization analyzers: Flame emission detectors; Flame ionization detectors FID;

Flowmeters: Flow meters; Pitot tubes;

Fluorescent microscopes: Epifluorescence microscopes;

Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators: Air incubators; Incubators;

Freeze dryers or lyopholizers: Freeze dryers;

Fume hoods or cupboards: Fume hoods;

Gas chromatographs: Gas chromatographs GC;

Gas detector tubes: Sorbent tubes; Multi gas detector tubes;

Gas detectors: Combustible gas meters;

Gas gauges: Gas meters;

Global positioning system GPS receiver: Global positioning system GPS receivers;

Instrumentation for capillary electrophoresis: Capillary electrophoresis systems;

Ion chromatographs: Ion chromatographs;

Ionmeters: Argon ionization detectors;

Isolation glove boxes: Glove box systems;

Laboratory balances: Balances;

Laboratory mechanical convection ovens: Laboratory ovens;

Laboratory microwave ovens: Microwave digestion instruments;

Liquid scintillation counters: Liquid scintillation counters;

Mass spectrometers: Mass spectrometers; Plasma-mass spectrometers; Trace metal analyzers;

Mud pumps: Electric pumps;

Nitrogen or nitrate or nitrite analyzer: Soil carbon-nitrogen CN analyzers;

Notebook computers: Notebook computers;

Open stream current meters: Hydrological current meters;

Open stream water level recorders: Water level recorders; Wave gauges;

Orbital shakers: Shakers;

Organic carbon analyzers: Total organic carbon TOC analyzers; Organic carbon analyzers;

Ozone analyzers: Ozonators;

Penetrometers: California bearing ratio CBR testing devices;

Permeability testing apparatus: Consolidometers;

pH meters: pH meters;

Photo attachments for microscopes: Charge-coupled device CCD cameras;

Photometer: Laser photometers; Luminometers; Photometer;

Potentiometers: Scanning potentiostats;

Programmable tube furnaces: Graphite furnaces;

Rotary drills: Mud rotary drills;

Sample holders: Whole air canisters;

Sample oxidizer: Biological oxidizers; Thermal/catalytic oxidizers TCO;

Seismic recorders or seismographs: Seismographs;

Shear strength testers: Solid shear failure testing devices; Direct shear testing devices;

Soil core sampling apparatus: Geoprobes; Limnological core loggers;

Spectrophotometers: Spectrophotometers; Fluorescence spectrophotometers;

Steam autoclaves or sterilizers: Autoclaves;

Thermal conductivity analyzers: Thermal conductivity detectors;

Thermocouples: Thermocouples;

Titration equipment: Automatic titrators;

Ultra violet water purification units: Ultraviolet water purification systems;

Vacuum or centrifugal concentrators: Sample concentrators;

Vacuum pumps: Liquid ring pumps;

Water analyzers: Nutrient analyzers; Multiparameter water quality instruments;

Water samplers: Stormwater samplers;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Air dispersion modeling software; ANSYS simulation software; DHI Water and Environment MIKE SHE; Ecological risk assessment software; Finite element method FEM software; Gas dispersion model software; HEC-RAS; Hydrologic simulation program fortan HSPF software; Image analysis software; Insightful S-PLUS; LINDO Systems optimization modeling software; Maplesoft Maple; RockWare MODFLOW; Rockwell Automation Arena; SAS; Simulation software; Simultaneous location and mapping SLAM; Site remediation management software; Stormwater runoff modeling software; The MathWorks MATLAB; WAM software; Waste management software; Water flow modeling software; Wind flow modeling software; XP Software XPSWMM;

Compliance software: Regulatory compliance management software; Material safety data sheet MSDS software; Continuous emission management software; Greenhouse gas management software; Hazardous materials management HMS software; Environmental health and safety documentation software;

Computer aided design CAD software: Computer aided design and drafting software CADD; Computer aided design CAD software; Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D; Bentley MicroStation; SofTech CADRA;

Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access;

Desktop communications software: Eko;

Development environment software: Formula translation/translator FORTRAN;

Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software; ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Photogrammetric software;

Industrial control software: Fugitive emission leak detection software;

Map creation software: Geomechanical design analysis GDA software; Oil mapping software;

Object or component oriented development software: Python; C++;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Project management software: Microsoft Project;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Environmental Engineers include:
  • 11-9199.11 Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
  • 17-2051.00 Civil Engineers
  • 19-1031.00 Conservation Scientists
  • 13-1041.01 Environmental Compliance Inspectors
  • 17-3025.00 Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
  • 19-4042.00 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
  • 19-2041.00 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
  • 19-2041.03 Industrial Ecologists
  • 11-9121.02 Water Resource Specialists
  • 17-2051.02 Water/Wastewater Engineers


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about environmental engineers, visit: American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)
  • For more information about education for engineers, visit: American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
  • For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit: ABET
  • For more information about becoming licensed as a professional engineer, visit: National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
  • National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
  • CareerOneStop

  • For a career video on environmental engineers, visit: Environmental Engineers
  • Environmental Engineers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.