# Environmental Engineers

> Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 17-2081.00
- **Summary:** Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

## Aliases

- Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Remediation Specialist
- Sanitary Engineer
- Air Pollution Control Engineer
- Engineering Consultant
- Environmental Analyst
- Environmental Consultant
- Hazardous Substances Engineer
- Air Quality Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Coastal Engineer

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality. | Core | 4.A.2.b.2.m |
| Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.j |
| Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems. | Core | 4.A.4.b.1.a |
| Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment. | Core | 4.A.4.b.6.c |
| Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them. | Core | 4.A.3.b.2.a |
| Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.i |
| Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.c |
| Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability. | Core | 4.A.4.b.6.c |
| Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste. | Core | 4.A.3.b.2.f |
| Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects. | Core | 4.A.4.a.3.b |
| Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration. | Core | 4.A.4.b.4.h |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Prepare technical or operational reports. | 4.A.3.b.6.c |
| Maintain operational records or records systems. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Advise others regarding green practices or environmental concerns. | 4.A.4.b.6.c |
| Monitor activities affecting environmental quality. | 4.A.1.a.2.i |
| Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards. | 4.A.1.b.2.e |
| Train personnel on proper operational procedures. | 4.A.4.b.3.d |
| Determine operational criteria or specifications. | 4.A.3.b.2.a |
| Prepare operational reports. | 4.A.3.b.6.o |
| Investigate the environmental impact of projects. | 4.A.1.a.1.j |
| Prepare project budgets. | 4.A.4.b.4.h |
| Develop technical methods or processes. | 4.A.3.b.2.f |
| Direct environmental development activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans. | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Teach safety standards or environmental compliance methods. | 4.A.4.b.3.c |
| Prepare detailed work plans. | 4.A.2.b.6.b |
| Test characteristics of materials or structures. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Package materials for transport. | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources. | 4.A.4.c.3.e |
| Assist engineers or scientists with research. | 4.A.4.a.2.b |
| Design environmental control systems. | 4.A.2.b.2.m |
| Explain project details to the general public. | 4.A.4.a.3.b |
| Write reports or evaluations. | 4.A.3.b.6.c |
| Prepare research or technical reports on environmental issues. | 4.A.3.b.6.c |
| Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems. | 4.A.4.b.1.a |
| Prepare procedural documents. | 4.A.3.b.6.i |
| Attend conferences or workshops to maintain professional knowledge. | 4.A.2.b.3.a |
| Exchange information with colleagues. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 4.95 |
| Design | knowledge | 4.62 |
| Chemistry | knowledge | 4.05 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 4 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 4 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 4 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 4 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 4 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 4 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 4 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Written Expression | ability | 4 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 4 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 4 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Building and Construction | knowledge | 3.86 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.81 |
| Physics | knowledge | 3.76 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Fluency of Ideas | ability | 3.75 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.62 |
| Biology | knowledge | 3.62 |
| Originality | ability | 3.62 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.62 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.62 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.62 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.62 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.6 |
| Law and Government | knowledge | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Science | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.33 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.29 |
| Systems Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Systems Evaluation | transferable_skill | 3.25 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Project | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Simulation Software | Specialized Skill |
| HEC-RAS | Specialized Skill |
| Ansys Simulation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Project Management Software | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Industrial Control Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | yes |
| Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Bentley MicroStation | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| C++ | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| ESRI ArcGIS software | Geographic information system | yes | no |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Project | Project management software | yes | no |
| Python | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| SAS | Analytical or scientific software | yes | no |
| The MathWorks MATLAB | Analytical or scientific software | yes | no |
| Air dispersion modeling software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| ANSYS simulation software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Business software applications | Office suite software | no | no |
| Computer aided design and drafting software CADD | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Continuous emission management software | Compliance software | no | no |
| DHI Water and Environment MIKE SHE | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Ecological risk assessment software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Eko | Desktop communications software | no | no |
| Environmental health and safety documentation software | Compliance software | no | no |
| ESRI ArcView | Geographic information system | no | no |
| Finite element method FEM software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Formula translation/translator FORTRAN | Development environment software | no | no |
| Fugitive emission leak detection software | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Gas dispersion model software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Geographic information system GIS systems | Geographic information system | no | no |
| Geomechanical design analysis GDA software | Map creation software | no | no |
| Greenhouse gas management software | Compliance software | no | no |
| Hazardous materials management HMS software | Compliance software | no | no |
| HEC-RAS | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Hydrologic simulation program fortan HSPF software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Image analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Insightful S-PLUS | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| LINDO Systems optimization modeling software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Maplesoft Maple | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Material safety data sheet MSDS software | Compliance software | no | no |
| Oil mapping software | Map creation software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| E-Mail | 4.95 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.89 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.42 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.4 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.3 |
| Contact With Others | 4.05 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.05 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.05 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.05 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 4 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 3.95 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.86 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.81 |
| Time Pressure | 3.81 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.79 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.65 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.63 |
| Level of Competition | 3.5 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 3.2 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.2 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.16 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 3.15 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.14 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.95 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 2.86 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 2.86 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 2.81 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 2.75 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.7 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 2.7 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.62 |
| Public Speaking | 2.57 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.45 |
| Spend Time Standing | 2.4 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 2.2 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.15 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.14 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.14 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.11 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.05 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 4
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- **Experience:** A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- **Svp Range:** (7.0 to < 8.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Bachelor's Degree | 61.9 |
| Master's Degree | 28.57 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.76 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.76 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 7 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 6.1 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 6.07 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 6 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 5.17 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 5.12 |
| Integrity | work_style | 5 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.59 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 4.25 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 4 |
| Nature/Outdoors | specific_interest_area | 3.84 |
| Life Science | specific_interest_area | 3.54 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 3.37 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 3.22 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 3.17 |
| Intellectual Curiosity | work_style | 3 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 19-2041.00 | role-19-2041-00 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | Primary-Short |
| 17-2051.02 | role-17-2051-02 | Water/Wastewater Engineers | Primary-Short |
| 17-3025.00 | role-17-3025-00 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 11-9199.11 | role-11-9199-11 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | Primary-Short |
| 13-1041.01 | role-13-1041-01 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | Primary-Short |
| 19-4042.00 | role-19-4042-00 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | Primary-Long |
| 19-2041.03 | role-19-2041-03 | Industrial Ecologists | Primary-Long |
| 11-9121.02 | role-11-9121-02 | Water Resource Specialists | Primary-Long |
| 17-2051.00 | role-17-2051-00 | Civil Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 19-1031.00 | role-19-1031-00 | Conservation Scientists | Primary-Long |
| 19-2041.02 | role-19-2041-02 | Environmental Restoration Planners | Supplemental |
| 17-2111.00 | role-17-2111-00 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Energy & Natural Resources | energy-natural-resources |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Bachelor's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Engineering | engineering |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 104170
- **Mean Wage:** 110570
- **Pct10Wage:** 64950
- **Pct25Wage:** 80510
- **Pct75Wage:** 130830
- **Pct90Wage:** 161910
- **Employment:** 37950
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 17720 | 102730 | 6.69 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 9110 | 103690 | 32.01 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 2710 | 111850 | 0.86 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 2340 | 105650 | 1.05 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 990 | 123020 | 1.43 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 470 | 122840 | 3.3 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 460 | 126610 | 3.26 |
| 541380 | 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | National industry | 460 | 102590 | 10.97 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 320 | 86340 | 0.1 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 280 | 119280 | 0.15 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 250 | 90000 | 0.13 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 240 | 96040 | 0.16 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 9110 | 32.01 |
| 541380 | 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | National industry | 460 | 10.97 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 17720 | 6.69 |
| 221112 | 221112 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | National industry | 100 | 5.7 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 470 | 3.3 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 460 | 3.26 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 990 | 1.43 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 2340 | 1.05 |
- **Count:** 18

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.018 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 1.343561 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 1.889765 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | 1.043951 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 84
- **Percentile:** 89
- **Band:** High
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 91 | felten_aioe |
| 90 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 70 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 1.343561 | 91 | High | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.9814814814814814 | 90 | High | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.2082842689802057 | 70 | High | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.018
- **Percentile:** 13
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** yes

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.12962962962962962
- **Beta:** 0.5555555555555556
- **Gamma:** 0.9814814814814814

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties. | 0.005340804982560217 | 3.55 |
| Develop, implement, or manage plans or programs related to conservation or management of natural resources. | 0.005032681618181743 | 3.45 |
| Write reports or articles for Web sites or newsletters related to environmental engineering issues. | 0.002156863550649319 | 3.26 |
| Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations. | 0.0019514479743970028 | 3.74 |
| Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports. | 0.0017460323981446867 | 3.95 |
| Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues. | 0.0016433246100185286 | 3.67 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 3.9
- **Growth Percentile:** 63
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 3
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 37
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 39.4
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 41

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 1
- **Task Count:** 4
- **Total Sample:** 157
- **Autonomy Median:** 3
- **Dominant Collaboration:** directive
- **Automation Share:** 40.19
- **Augmentation Share:** 40.19
- **Work Use Percent:** 74.77

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| directive | 40.19 |
| task iteration | 40.19 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| work | 74.77 |
| coursework | 14.02 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties. | 0.010701337667208401 | directive | 3 | 107 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties. | 92.5233644859813 | 107 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Do this for me: provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 29
- **Skills:** 42
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 54
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** fc12e2e9a028b58f