What Does an Environmental Engineer Do?

Important Facts About This Occupation

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Air Pollution Control

As an environmental engineer, you might be tasked with preventing and repairing various types of air pollution. For example, you may conduct research to find ways of removing contaminants and dangerous emissions from the air. Your duties could also include monitoring air pollution production and dispersal rates.

Water Reclamation

Your expertise can also include developing methods of water conservation and reclamation. This may include creating artificial wetlands and decontaminating water for consumption. You might also specialize in wastewater or storm water management. As such, your responsibilities could include designing new municipal water treatment facilities or managing an existing system.

Land Preservation

In the field of solid waste disposal, you design and upgrade recycling facilities and landfills. For example, you might develop new technologies to capture methane from capped landfills for use in green power plants. You may also work with real estate developers and civil engineers to determine any potential environmental impacts caused by development and municipal-growth projects.

Hazardous Material Management

As an environmental engineer, you may be responsible for controlling hazardous or toxic materials. This can include minimizing the environmental impact of radiation and hazardous chemicals. You may also develop ways to remediate areas damaged by hazardous spills or research ways to neutralize toxic materials before disposal.

Career Outlook and Salary Info

The employment of environmental engineers is projected to grow at about the same average pace as other occupations between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov), which predicted that jobs will increase by 4% during the decade. Environmental engineers earned a median salary of $96,820 a year in 2021, per the BLS, which noted that those working for oil and gas extraction companies earned the highest annual wage, averaging $137,600.