What Does an Environmental Field Technician Do?

Education requirements vary, but typically, you’ll need to earn an associate degree or complete at least two years of education and training after high school. 

However, there are employers who offer on-the-job training. (In fact, that was the experience of environmental field tech Julio Dejesus, above.) Some positions require a bachelor’s degree. 

You can dive into programs offered at technical schools and community colleges in environmental health, public health or related topics. Courses will focus on environmental science and related technologies, such as geographic information systems (GIS). All programs should include lab experience and supervised field training.

If you work with hazardous waste, you’ll need to get Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) training.

Depending on what state you work in, you may need a license or certification. For example, to test buildings for radon, you’ll need to earn certification from the National Radon Safety Board. The National Registry of Environmental Professionals offers other common certifications. 

You’ll need a driver’s license to meet with clients and go to sites for testing. 

They primarily work for government agencies, consulting firms, laboratories or engineering services. A wide variety of industries need their skills. For example, the need for environmental services technicians in agriculture and mining is greater than it is in other industries. 

The role of an environmental tech may change depending on the employer. For example, techs who work in testing laboratories spend almost all their time in the lab while techs for consulting firms or government agencies spend more time in the field. 

Most environmental field technician jobs are full-time.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts about 4,000 openings a year for this role from 2021 to 2031. That 6% growth rate reflects a growing interest in the environment and the need to better monitor human impacts. 

Successful environmental field technicians tend to share several traits, including: 

• Work well in a team 
• Excellent observation skills
• Able to quickly size up problems and produce solutions
• Able to think critically and logically
• Strong interest in the natural sciences such as biology and chemistry