Environmental

Are you concerned about the environment and want to make a positive difference in your surroundings? Then environmental engineering is for you! Environmental engineers work to improve and innovate our current systems to be safer for the environment.

What is Environmental Engineering?

Environmental engineers work on teams responsible for designing, developing, and manufacturing innovative solutions to help make all aspects of our lives more environmentally friendly.

 

Environmental engineers typically work on teams with other engineers to innovate their designs and strategically determine the best approach to implementing an environmentally-friendly product or process.

 

Environmental engineers make a median salary of $88,860 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

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Example Careers

Water resources Engineer

Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree

Average Salary
$60k


Water resource engineering involves the design of new systems and equipment that help manage human water resources. Some of the areas water resource engineers touch are water treatment facilities, underground wells, and natural springs. They create new equipment and systems to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of water treatment and aquatic resource management. Water resource engineers are expected to obtain a bachelor's degree at minimum. Some states also ask hat you attend an ABET-accredited program to with the licensure process.

Environmental Project Managers

Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree

Average Salary
$57k


An environmental project manager works on construction, waste management, and engineering projects with the goal of assessing the ecological impact of the work and reporting it to the relevant regulatory agencies. Their responsibilities involve suggesting and investigating methods for mitigating environmental impact and developing best practices. Most of the time environmental project managers need a bachelor's degree or master's degree in environmental sciences or project management.

Water/Wastewater Practice Manager

Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree

Average Salary
$80k


Water and Wastewater Practice managers provide technical direction and supervision to licensed and non-licensed engineers, designers, and other production personnel. The design water systems such as storage tanks, booster pump station, transmission and distribution lines, groundwater wells, and water treatment facilities. Additionally, they design wastewater systems including collection systems, lift stations, force mains, and wastewater treatment processes. Wastewater practice managers need to have a high level of confidence and strong work ethic, interpersonal communication skills, and need to be able to lead multi-disciplinary teams.

Environmental Compliance Engineer

Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree

Average Salary
$82k


Environmental Compliance Engineer prepare environmental permit applications and support calculations to meet state and federal requirements. They conduct regulatory compliance audits to meet client internal needs, communicate with state and federal regulatory agencies as part of permit preparation and regulatory interpretation, and provide training for staff on requirements for permits, plans and reports. Some of the skill requirements are strong communication, interpersonal, technical writing, and computer skills.

Environmental Consulting

Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree

Average Salary
$58k


Environmental Consultants conduct assessments for a wide variety of property types, and interview onsite management/maintenance staff concerning historical conditions. Additionally, environmental consultants must prepare narrative reports describing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Environmental Engineer

Education Requirements
Doctoral Degree

Average Salary
$70k


Environmental engineer or environmental microbiologist research and test how certain substances can affect biodegradation, antibiotic resistances, and other research in the field. They commonly conduct their research with a college or university but there is also private research opportunities.

Biogas Engineer

Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree

Average Salary
$110k


Biogas engineers are in charge of execution of biogas feasibility studies, process design development, mass and energy balances, equipment procurement packages, construction design documents, and construction support. Additionally, they must have an understanding of the waste to energy industry markets and demonstrated ability to monitor and communicate new market drivers and regulatory changes. They will also be supporting civil and environmental projects which may include earthwork, stormwater, wastewater, remediation, solid waste, and restoration. Some requirements for biogas engineers are good communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to estimate costs and prepare permit applications.

Career salary data provided by: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook and O*NET OnLine.

If environmental engineering is not your thing, there are more areas of engineering.

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