Environmental engineers are the main players, but environmental technicians are also crucial to project success. These engineering technicians are trained assistants that help develop, deploy and maintain environmental equipment and systems.
Of the approximately 18,450 of these environmental-technician jobs in May of 2010, architect and engineering firms hired over 6,000. Consulting firms hired another 3,000 or so environmental engineering technicians, and local governments hired over 2,000. Waste management and related industries hired over 1,000, and state governments also hired over 1,000 of these environmental technology jobs. These figures were compiled by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau also found that the median salary for these technicians was $43,390.
To become an environmental technician, you do not specifically need an engineering degree. Some people do get an environmental engineering degree first and then initially get a job as a technician while looking for an engineering job position. However, what typically happens is that a technician will take a degree or certificate course in environmental engineering technology that lasts less than the 4 years for a standard environmental engineering degree and more time for an advanced engineering degree.
There are many environmental-technology programs that could be completed at community and junior colleges, technical schools, and even the military. However, degrees or certificates earned from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) tend to have more credibility than the typical program. This could be the difference between getting a job and not getting employed after receiving your environmental-technician degree.
To find these schools, use the link near the bottom of this article to run a search in the directory of ABET-accredited engineering and engineering-technology training and education programs. Select “Environmental Engineering Technology” as the Program Area and keep all the other fields the same.
Getting ABET accreditation is not the least bit easy. In fact, as of September 2011, there were only 4 schools that offered an accredited program for environmental engineering technicians. They were the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Sinclair Community College, Three Rivers Community College, and Vermont Technical College.
Once you get training, then apply for environmental-technician jobs directly with environmental engineering firms, consulting companies, waste management companies, and state and local governments.
Resources:
ABET Directory of Accredited Environmental Engineering Technology Schools
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Engineering Technician Career Information
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Environmental Engineering Technician Career Information