By Indeed Editorial Team
March 22, 2021
If you have a passion for science and the environment, consider one of the many environmental health and safety careers in the workforce. Not only does this field let you explore your environmental interests, but it also gives you the opportunity to protect the planet through your professional career. In this article, we explain what health and safety environment jobs entail, explain the education needed for these roles and list the top jobs in this field that earn over $40,000 per year.
Related: 25 Jobs in Environmental Studies You Can Pursue
What are environmental health and safety jobs?
Environmental health and safety jobs are positions in the workforce that focus on the environment’s protection and preservation. This field encompasses opportunities that aim to improve environmental factors that impact a community’s health and safety, as well as those those that report unsafe conditions. You can typically find environmental health and safety jobs with private companies, governments and nonprofit organizations.
Related: What is Environmental Health? Definitions and Careers in Environmental Health
Education for environmental health and safety jobs
The education you need for an environmental health and safety job varies by position. For example, while you need a bachelor’s degree to become an occupational health and safety specialist or an environmental scientist, you only need an associate degree to pursue a carer as an environmental science and protection technician. Typically, a higher level position requires a higher level of education. It’s also worth noting that some jobs may also require or prefer candidates with a certification.
Related: How To Obtain an Environmental Health and Safety Certification
Top environmental health and safety jobs
From jobs focusing on environmental inspections to those handling investigations, the environmental health and safety field comprises several career options for you to pursue. Many of these positions offer generous salaries, giving you the ability to earn a sizable income in your pursuit of a greener planet. Here are 10 environment health and safety jobs that earn more than $40,000 per year:
1. Environmental technician
National average salary: $40,027 per year
Primary duties: Environmental technicians perform tests and investigate fields to collect samples and data. Their work helps engineers and scientists clean, control, monitor and prevent pollution. Environmental technicians also inspect and maintain equipment, manage hazardous waste and help with regulatory compliance.
2. Environmental specialist
National average salary: $53,828 per year
Primary duties: Environmental specialists monitor a population’s impact on the environment. They identify environmental issues, recommend solutions and ensure adherence to federal, state and local regulations. Environmental specialists also perform environmental studies to identify the effects pollution has on the local environment.
3. Environmental compliance specialist
National average salary: $58,918 per year
Primary duties: Environmental compliance specialists analyze industrial sites and determine the source of pollution in order to protect communities and ensure compliance with environmental laws. They implement corrective actions to ensure compliance with regulations, implement environmental management systems and manage a variety of projects.
4. Environmental analyst
National average salary: $61,218 per year
Primary duties: Environmental analysts study the human impact on different parts of the planet like air, water, soil, food. They collect environmental data from samples, analyze both surveys and samples to identify environmental threats and create plans to prevent, control or fix a variety of environmental problems.
5. Environmental scientist
National average salary: $72,145 per year
Primary duties: Environmental scientists detect hazards to the environment and Earth’s inhabitants. They develop solutions to eliminate these hazards or lower their severity. Environmental scientists also perform fieldwork to investigate the extent of media contamination, identify data collection methods and create reports on their research findings and provide guidance to stakeholders.
6. Environmental manager
National average salary: $79,265 per year
Primary duties: Environmental managers ensure an organization’s compliance with environmental regulations. Some of these regulations may include those on air quality, waste, clean water and pollution. Environmental managers also implement environmental policies, create environmental reports, review and recommend improvements to environmental strategies and perform environmental research.
7. Compliance officer
National average salary: $80,184 per year
Primary duties: Compliance officers ensure their organizations follow government regulations. Environmental compliance officers, in particular, ensure companies comply with various environmental issues such as chemical use, emissions and pollution. They also provide technical assistance for various environmental health regulations.
8. Industrial hygienist
National average salary: $83,695 per year
Primary duties: Industrial hygienists perform many tasks related to safety control. For example, they may check the functionality of a ventilation system and ensure the correct and safe usage of handling materials. Industrial hygienists also anticipate problems before they arise and know what to do when they occur.
9. Environmental health and safety officer
National average salary: $84,776 per year
Primary duties: Environmental health and safety officers create and implement a company’s health and safety policies and procedures. Through their duties, they aim to protect the company’s employees, its customers and the overall environment. Environmental health and safety officers also analyze the environment, equipment and various processes to ensure they comply with safety regulations and industry standards. In addition, they make recommendations to protect employees and educate them on how to prevent a variety of health issues through safety training.
10. Occupational health and safety manager
National average salary: $95,036 per year
Primary duties: Occupational health and safety managers create and execute health and safety plans in the workplace. They analyze work environments and create programs to manage, eliminate or prevent diseases or injuries stemming from potentially hazardous work conditions. They may also conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations.
More environmental health and safety jobs
Here are 15 more environmental health and safety jobs to pursue:
