Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Also called: Environmental Analyst · Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS Specialist) · Environmental Health Specialist · Environmental Programs Specialist · Environmental Protection Specialist · Environmental Scientist
Median pay (national)
$80,060
$50,130–$134,830 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
84,930
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.4%
~8,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for environmental scientists and specialists, including health shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $134,830 versus $50,130 at the bottom 10% — 2.7x. The median of $80,060 leaves roughly 68% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 8,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $122,440, +53% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $47,250 — a 159% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags ESRI ArcGIS software, Geographic information system GIS systems, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.
- Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.
- Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
Tools & technology
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Illustrator
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Bentley MicroStation
- C++
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- SAP software
- Structured query language SQL
- ADMS pollution modeling software
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Biology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
- Administrative