ESEnvironmental Scientist
ES
Career

Environmental Scientist

By the numbers
Typical pay
$82,220 / yr
Education to start
Bachelor's degree
Future demand
+4.4% by 2034
People in this job
89K
Figures shown for ·closest of 3 O*NET occupations
The work
A day, hour by hour

Days split between field, lab, and desk — here's a common field-heavy day:

07:30
Site prep & drive

Load sampling gear, check safety kit, head to the field site.

08:15
Field sampling

Wade in, drill down, collect soil and water samples across the grid.

10:30
Anomaly call

One reading spikes hard — real contamination or a bad sample? Resample and decide.

11:15
Lab handoff

Log, label, and deliver samples; run quick on-site tests for pH and conductivity.

13:00
Data analysis

Map pollutant spread in GIS; trace the contamination plume back to its source.

14:30
Remediation review

Scrutinize the draft cleanup plan — is this thorough, or just the legal minimum?

15:30
Client briefing

Present findings in plain language so the client knows exactly what to do next.

16:30
Report writing

Turn raw data and field notes into a tight, regulator-ready written report.

Things you do
  • Collect soil, water, and air samples at contaminated sites.
  • Run lab tests to pinpoint what pollutants are present and how much.
  • Figure out where contamination came from and how far it has spread.
  • Design cleanup plans to remove or neutralize hazardous materials.
  • Write detailed reports explaining findings to clients and regulators.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this reading a real contamination spike, or just a bad sample?
  • Is the risk here serious enough to report now, or do I need more data first?
  • Should I flag this site as safe to use, or is my uncertainty too high?
  • Am I explaining this finding in a way the client can actually act on?
  • Is this cleanup plan good enough, or are we just doing the legal minimum?
Education Pathways · how you get there
78 in 100 went the college route · 22 in 100 found another way in None, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:
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