How to hire an environmental health technician

How to hire an environmental health technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step environmental health technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an environmental health technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new environmental health technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The environmental health technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect environmental health technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of environmental health technicians.

   Type of Environmental Health Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Environmental Health Technician	Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health. In addition, they work to ensure that environmental violations are prevented.	$11-27
   Laboratory Analyst	A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.	$14-29
   Surveillance Technician	A man without specific skills can't be the perfect man. Surveillance Technician, thus, needs to be tactful... Show more	$14-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Public Health
   • OSHA
   • EHS
   • Safety Equipment
   • Hazardous Waste
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Health Programs
   • Emergency Response
   • Water Samples
   • Safety Training
   • Occupational Health
   • Air Quality
   • DOT
   • Occupational Safety

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
   • Present design and product engineers with cost effective FCC compliance solutions to certify new products to domestic and international regulatory standards.
   • Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operate sterilizers.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your environmental health technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An environmental health technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, environmental health technicians' average salary in tennessee is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level environmental health technicians earn 60% less than senior-level environmental health technicians.
   • Certifications. An environmental health technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an environmental health technician's salary.

   Average environmental health technician salary

   $36,540yearly

   $17.57 hourly rate

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   Entry-level environmental health technician salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an environmental health technician job description

   An environmental health technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an environmental health technician job description:

   Environmental health technician job description example

   What You Will Do:
   
   I. General Summary
   
   Under the direction and supervision of the UMMC Director of Safety & Environmental Health supports the UMMC safety and environmental health program responsible for planning and conducting activities to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, employees, and visitors in facilities operated by University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
   
   II. Principal Responsibilities and Tasks
   
   The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. These are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.
   
   1. Provides fit testing utilizing equipment to evaluate the fit of a respirator on individuals who require respiratory protection from airborne contaminants.
   
   2. Reviews information and answers user questions about the fit testing process, respirator use, care, cleaning, donning and doffing.
   
   3. Schedules fit testing appointments, reviews any required documentation needed prior to fit testing, and answers questions about the fit testing program.
   
   4. Ensures accuracy of the information on fit test forms and enters the information into a data tracking system.
   
   5. Prepares the fit testing center each day, including the equipment set-up and take down.
   
   6. Provides support for other PPE and Safety & Environmental Health program activities as needed.
   
   What You Need to Be Successful:
   
   III. Education and Experience
   
   1. High School degree or equivalent required.2. Previous related experience preferred.IV. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
   
   1. Ability to work both independently and as a team member and seek assistance as necessary. Flexible and able to adapt to rapidly changing situations. Demonstrate good organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks required.2. Highly effective verbal communication skills are required to work successfully with a diverse group of staff at all levels within the organization and external partners.3. Knowledge of computer equipment, word processing, spreadsheet and database software packages. Accurate data entry skills are essential.4. Ability to evaluate situations and exercise good judgment in making decisions.5. Ability to apply UMMC Commitment to Excellence Behavioral Standards.6. Ability to problem solve issues and identify appropriate resources for assistance.7. Ability to develop effective working relationships and maintain good communication with other team members.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right environmental health technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with environmental health technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit environmental health technicians who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your environmental health technician job on Zippia to find and recruit environmental health technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with environmental health technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new environmental health technician

   Once you've selected the best environmental health technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new environmental health technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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