How To Become An Environmental Sampling Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an environmental sampling technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

John Turbeville Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an environmental sampling technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $16.32 an hour? That's $33,940 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 3,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to an environmental sampling technician?

John Turbeville Ph.D.

Senior Assistant Dean for Student Affairs/Director of Career Services, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

There is no particular fix, or one size fits all approach to job searching. The ability to successfully network and engage in an ongoing way, in various career-related opportunities, is still the best strategy for success, even in uncertain times like these. Students may have additional opportunities made available to them because of the digital/remote nature of how many organizations are engaging in their recruitment-allowing graduates the ability to experience more, in a shorter period, without limitations of location or travel, that very often enter into considerations surrounding the job search. With that said, however, knowing there is a durable full-time, seasonal nature to early employment opportunities for biology grads, we would expect this to be more prevalent as the economy begins to recover. Demand for graduates in the public health-related fields will likely continue to be high, but graduates will probably need to be even more flexible in starting their careers. Not in the sense that they will need to take positions "out of their field," but instead, that they will need to be more open to relocating for the right opportunities to engage their passions and interests.

ScoreEnvironmental Sampling TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $33,940

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 10.42%

Black or African American 9.49%

Hispanic or Latino 16.78%

Unknown 6.17%

White 56.09%

Gender

female 34.56%

male 65.44%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an environmental sampling technician

Explore environmental sampling technician education requirements

Most common environmental sampling technician degrees

Bachelor's

73.1 %

Associate

18.3 %

High School Diploma

4.3 %

Start to develop specific environmental sampling technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Entry	23.11%
Lims	21.11%
Process Samples	16.25%
Sample Collection	6.39%
Test Code	5.87%

Complete relevant environmental sampling technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New environmental sampling technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an environmental sampling technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real environmental sampling technician resumes.

Research environmental sampling technician duties and responsibilities

Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
Verify manufacturing areas before an audit of FDA / ISO.
Mitigate release of hazardous waste to environment using proper equipment and PPE.
Apply 40 CFR guidelines to ensure compliance of hazardous waste treatment and storage.

Prepare your environmental sampling technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your environmental sampling technician resume.

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