Environmental Engineering: A Rewarding Career Path

Introduction

Environmental engineering is a challenging and rewarding career that offers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment and human health. Environmental engineers develop and implement solutions to protect and improve the environment and ensure that human activities are sustainable. They work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, consulting firms, and private industry.

Job Duties

Environmental engineers typically perform the following duties:

Design and implement solutions to environmental problems
Evaluate the environmental impact of proposed projects
Develop and enforce environmental regulations
Monitor and analyze environmental data
Communicate environmental information to the public

Education and Training

Environmental engineers typically have a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field. Some states require environmental engineers to be licensed. To become licensed, environmental engineers must typically pass a state exam.

In addition to their formal education, environmental engineers often have experience in related fields, such as chemistry, biology, or mathematics. They also need to be able to work independently and as part of a team, and they must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Salary and Job Outlook

The median annual salary for environmental engineers was $92,150 in May 2021. The job outlook for environmental engineers is expected to be good over the next decade, with a 6% increase in employment projected from 2021 to 2031.

Environmental engineering is a broad field that encompasses a variety of related careers, including:

Environmental scientist
Environmental consultant
Air quality engineer
Water resources engineer
Wastewater treatment engineer

Conclusion

Environmental engineering is a rewarding career that offers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment and human health. If you are interested in a career in environmental engineering, you should have a strong interest in science and math, be able to work independently and as part of a team, and be able to communicate effectively.