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

Q: How do I start a career in environmental science?

To start a career in environmental science, it's important to get postsecondary education and gain relevant experience and skills. Most people in environmental science take on internships to do with environmental engineering or quality control. They usually also take job positions like an environmental scientist, environmental specialist, or laboratory technician.

Q: How hard is it to be an environmental scientist?

It can be hard to be an environmental scientist if you don't have at least a bachelor's degree in environmental science or a science-related field such as biology, physics, and geosciences.

Q: How long does it take to become an environmental scientist?

It takes about 4-6 years to become an environmental scientist after high school. Furthermore, it can take additional years to teach at universities or be more qualified for research positions.

Q: What degree do you need to be an environmental scientist?

You need a bachelor's degree in environmental science to be an environmental scientist. A bachelor's degree in another resource-related field can also be acceptable. While this is the bare minimum degree needed to become an environmental scientist, most have advanced degrees, such as a master's, in the field.

Q: Where do environmental scientists get paid the most?

Environmental scientists get paid the most in construction, with an average salary of $66,950. The technology and professional industries follow after, offering $62,267 and $57,521, respectively.

What is an environmental scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Andrea Welker Ph.D.,

Richard Tollo Ph.D.

An environmental scientist studies the natural world and how humans impact it. They use scientific methods to analyze data and develop solutions to environmental problems. They may work in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. Environmental scientists conduct fieldwork, collect samples, and analyze data. They may also develop policies and programs to promote sustainability and environmental protection. Environmental scientists often collaborate with engineers, policy makers, and community leaders to address complex environmental issues.

What general advice would you give to an environmental scientist?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.

ScoreEnvironmental ScientistUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $60,208

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 5.03%

Black or African American 3.09%

Hispanic or Latino 6.19%

Unknown 3.68%

White 81.24%

Gender

female 38.33%

male 61.67%

Age - 37

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 - 37

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an environmental scientist?

Pros

High demand for professionals in the field
Opportunities to work with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and communities
Opportunities for international travel and work
Potential for job stability and security
Good salary potential

Cons

Long working hours and high workload during peak periods
Risk of exposure to hazardous materials and environments
Heavy reliance on grant-funded projects, which can be unpredictable and short-term
High level of competition for jobs
Possible need to relocate frequently for work opportunities

Key steps to become an environmental scientist

Explore environmental scientist education requirements

Most common environmental scientist degrees

Bachelor's

80.9 %

Master's

11.7 %

Associate

5.0 %

Start to develop specific environmental scientist skills

Skills	Percentages
Environmental Compliance	5.26%
Data Collection	5.16%
GIS	5.06%
OSHA	5.03%
Technical Reports	4.83%

Complete relevant environmental scientist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New environmental scientists 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 scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real environmental scientist resumes.

Research environmental scientist duties and responsibilities

Manage matters relate to CERCLA, RCRA, CWA, OPA, ESA and land use issues.
Lead a team of brain cancer immunotherapy with CTLA-4 or PD-L1 antibody conjugate drug.
Manage hazardous waste, biohazardous waste, radioactive waste, industrial hygiene, respirator protection, and MSDS database.
Lead numerous consultation meetings with USACE, BOEM, USCG, NMFS, USFWS and other state and federal agencies.

Prepare your environmental scientist resume

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

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an environmental scientist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable environmental scientist resume templates

Build a professional environmental scientist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your environmental scientist resume.

Apply for environmental scientist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an environmental scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first environmental scientist job

Edward Dabsys

Environmental Scientist, Genesis Engineering & Redevelopment

Your career journey of how you became an Environmental Scientist

I received a bachelor's degree in Geology with a concentration in Environmental Studies from Occidental College. From there, I was hired by the Parsons Corporation as a Staff Geologist. There, I learned the needed skills to pursue a career in Environmental Science. We primarily provided environmental consulting to our clients through site investigations, assessments, and pilot studies. Over the next few years I learned field testing methods, sampling techniques, and improved writing techniques. Eventually, I was able to find my current position at Genesis Engineering and Redevelopment as a Senior Staff Geologist where I can assist in coordinating field efforts for more environmental investigations.

How do environmental scientists rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Environmental scientist reviews

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2021

Pros

Firstly, the most important is to protect our planet for us and the future generations. Secondly our planet is not going to support the pressure and negative impacts because of the big Increased human population . Finally our planet needs more and more environmental specialists to regulate and control all human activities, especially the ilegal ones.

Cons

I don’t like when big companies they know what’s wrong and what’s right, but still the destroy, like cutting trees in Brazil and the other side big companies even knowing those trees are ilegal, but still they continuing to porches. There for I can’t understand and I don’t like.

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020

Pros

Both indoor and outdoor work environment. Great job satisfaction meeting regulatory requirements.

What is an environmental scientist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an environmental scientist?

What are the pros and cons of being an environmental scientist?

Environmental scientist career paths

Key steps to become an environmental scientist

Explore environmental scientist education requirements

Most common environmental scientist degrees

Start to develop specific environmental scientist skills

Complete relevant environmental scientist training and internships

Research environmental scientist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your environmental scientist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable environmental scientist resume templates

Apply for environmental scientist jobs

How did you land your first environmental scientist job

Average environmental scientist salary

How do environmental scientists rate their job?

Environmental scientist reviews

Environmental scientist FAQs

How do I start a career in environmental science?

How hard is it to be an environmental scientist?

How long does it take to become an environmental scientist?

What degree do you need to be an environmental scientist?

Where do environmental scientists get paid the most?

Search for environmental scientist jobs

Environmental scientist jobs by state