Environmental engineers design and oversee projects that protect air, water, and soil quality. You'll solve complex problems using science and technology. The work requires a bachelor's degree and strong analytical skills, but the impact is direct and meaningful.
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Environmental engineers develop solutions to environmental challenges like pollution control, waste management, and resource conservation. You'll gather and analyze data, evaluate compliance with environmental standards, and use computer modeling to test designs. The work involves reading technical documents, making decisions based on evidence, and communicating findings to stakeholders. You'll monitor processes and materials on job sites, apply knowledge of chemistry and engineering principles, and write reports that guide projects from concept through implementation.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Environmental Engineers earn a median of $107,110 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 3,000 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or a related field. Your coursework will cover engineering and technology, design, chemistry, mathematics, and building and construction. During your studies, focus on developing critical thinking, reading comprehension, and technical writing skills. Internships and hands-on projects in environmental work help you build experience. After graduation, many environmental engineers pursue additional credentials to advance their careers and expand their scope of work.
Most environmental engineers earn a bachelor's degree, though some explore related technical paths first. The timeline and cost matter, so if you're weighing different routes to this career, Pathly can map the environmental engineer path that fits you and work through the options with your counselor.
Many environmental engineers must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You're drawn to investigative work that uses science and problem-solving to understand and fix real-world challenges. You enjoy research, analysis, and finding evidence-based solutions.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).