Environmental science and protection technicians, including health salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Mean (average) | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| 90th percentile | $94,160 | $45.27 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,000 | $37,340 | $69,990 | 410 | 0.88 |
| Alaska | $55,220 | $37,500 | $95,740 | 440 | 6.05 |
| Arizona | $57,800 | $45,760 | $80,120 | 590 | 0.81 |
| Arkansas | $48,390 | $42,900 | $64,480 | 160 | 0.55 |
| California | $61,220 | $37,670 | $106,840 | 6,010 | 1.48 |
| Colorado | $60,930 | $47,650 | $86,480 | 740 | 1.15 |
| Connecticut | $66,120 | $48,400 | $115,890 | ||
| Delaware | $45,720 | $33,080 | $64,790 | 150 | 1.39 |
| Florida | $48,840 | $39,280 | $74,170 | 2,090 | 0.94 |
| Georgia | $48,050 | $37,020 | $73,900 | 1,110 | 1.02 |
| Hawaii | $57,010 | $42,290 | $67,810 | 260 | 1.86 |
| Idaho | $55,420 | $30,800 | $140,150 | 200 | 1.06 |
| Illinois | $59,930 | $40,970 | $99,680 | 980 | 0.72 |
| Indiana | $49,020 | $36,180 | $73,190 | 780 | 1.09 |
| Iowa | $52,020 | $37,900 | $80,390 | 470 | 1.35 |
| Kansas | $47,880 | $39,520 | $66,680 | 340 | 1.06 |
| Kentucky | $46,840 | $36,910 | $83,100 | 560 | 1.26 |
| Louisiana | Data unavailable | 300 | 0.69 | ||
| Maine | $51,820 | $35,550 | $78,540 | 150 | 1.04 |
| Maryland | $55,090 | $37,370 | $99,480 | 580 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | $59,330 | $43,990 | $81,340 | 330 | 0.4 |
| Michigan | $51,290 | $41,600 | $74,570 | 600 | 0.61 |
| Minnesota | $65,320 | $36,730 | $113,530 | 450 | 0.69 |
| Mississippi | $35,010 | $28,880 | $68,300 | 250 | 0.98 |
| Missouri | $50,340 | $42,050 | $69,060 | 380 | 0.58 |
| Montana | $60,550 | $45,700 | $80,730 | 70 | 0.61 |
| Nebraska | $66,240 | $40,350 | $89,040 | 140 | 0.63 |
| Nevada | $60,370 | $44,670 | $93,820 | 390 | 1.14 |
| New Hampshire | $54,080 | $39,720 | $68,080 | 80 | 0.52 |
| New Jersey | $52,190 | $39,000 | $86,270 | 830 | 0.87 |
| New Mexico | $62,330 | $42,890 | $125,840 | 500 | 2.56 |
| New York | $62,400 | $40,020 | $107,600 | 1,960 | 0.91 |
| North Carolina | $51,630 | $38,870 | $77,480 | 1,100 | 1 |
| North Dakota | $61,430 | $41,460 | $83,820 | 140 | 1.41 |
| Ohio | $56,070 | $43,660 | $78,460 | 770 | 0.62 |
| Oklahoma | $48,090 | $35,230 | $84,120 | 360 | 0.95 |
| Oregon | $58,950 | $37,860 | $83,750 | 440 | 0.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,650 | $45,530 | $97,390 | 1,180 | 0.87 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,370 | $25,450 | $46,920 | 150 | 0.74 |
| Rhode Island | $64,830 | $51,100 | $97,720 | 90 | 0.84 |
| South Carolina | $48,700 | $37,440 | $102,550 | 500 | 0.97 |
| South Dakota | $44,180 | $30,830 | $57,010 | 60 | 0.56 |
| Tennessee | $56,960 | $44,920 | $74,790 | 320 | 0.43 |
| Texas | $50,710 | $39,490 | $78,770 | 3,350 | 1.07 |
| Utah | $58,240 | $48,670 | $78,040 | 270 | 0.69 |
| Vermont | $55,090 | $42,110 | $73,760 | 50 | 0.68 |
| Virginia | $49,430 | $37,840 | $77,300 | 1,450 | 1.59 |
| Washington | $67,160 | $47,360 | $106,490 | 850 | 1.07 |
| West Virginia | $52,590 | $36,970 | $67,390 | 750 | 4.8 |
| Wisconsin | $55,290 | $39,000 | $79,040 | 380 | 0.59 |
| Wyoming | $49,440 | $42,970 | $79,510 | 150 | 2.36 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental Science CIP 03.0104
- Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician CIP 15.0506
- Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0507
- Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician CIP 15.0508
- Environmental Toxicology CIP 26.1006
- Sustainability Studies CIP 30.3301
- Environmental Geosciences CIP 30.4101
- Geography and Environmental Studies CIP 30.4401
- Environmental Chemistry CIP 40.0509
- Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 41.0399
- Science Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 41.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
- Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.
- Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Autodesk Softdesk
- Database software
- ESRI ArcInfo
- ESRI ArcPad
- ESRI ArcView
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Industrial Pretreatment Program Specialist (IPP Specialist), Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Public Health Sanitarian, Sanitarian, Sanitarian Specialist, Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician), Water Quality Analyst, Water Quality Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do environmental science and protection technicians, including health make?
The national median annual wage for environmental science and protection technicians, including health was $55,090 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,170 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $94,160. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do environmental science and protection technicians, including health need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is environmental science and protection technicians, including health a growing career?
BLS projects employment of environmental science and protection technicians, including health to change +6.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay environmental science and protection technicians, including health the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($67,160), Nebraska ($66,240), Connecticut ($66,120). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.