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What is an environmental services worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Alberto Arenas Ph.D.
introduction image

An environmental services worker is an individual who provides support services to maintain a safe and clean environment in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, and office buildings. They are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, disposing of waste, restocking supplies, and performing basic maintenance tasks.They work closely with other healthcare professionals to keep patients and staff safe. Overall, an environmental services worker plays a crucial role in promoting health and safety.

What general advice would you give to an environmental services worker?

Alberto Arenas Ph.D.

Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Education Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Education, University of Arizona

The field of environmental conservation and sustainability will be incredibly exciting for decades to come. The environmental problems we currently face (e.g., climate change, species extinction, urban pollution, deforestation, soil impoverishment) require bold solutions that will only come from the minds and hearts of courageous individuals who want to contribute toward the betterment of our nation and planet. Millennials tend to display a greater sense of responsibility towards protecting the environment than previous generations. They unfortunately have been saddled by a cornucopia of bad decisions put forth by their predecessors. Hopefully a new cadre of graduates will devise vital solutions to correct this ill-informed past.
ScoreEnvironmental Services WorkerUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,648

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.9

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.46%

Asian 5.42%

Black or African American 11.14%

Hispanic or Latino 18.48%

Unknown 4.50%

White 59.00%

Gender

female 51.45%

male 48.55%

Age - 50
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 - 50
Stress level
4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.2

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an environmental services worker?

Pros

  • Opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment

  • Job security due to growing demand for environmental services

  • Chance to work outdoors and stay active

  • Wide range of job duties and tasks keeps work interesting

  • Potential for flexible scheduling or part-time work

Cons

  • Exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals

  • Work can be dirty and unpleasant, including handling waste and sewage

  • Shift work may be required, including nights, weekends or holidays

  • On-call work may be necessary in emergencies

  • High stress levels due to tight deadlines or unexpected challenges

Environmental services worker career paths

Key steps to become an environmental services worker

  1. Explore environmental services worker education requirements

    Most common environmental services worker degrees

    High School Diploma

    48.9 %

    Associate

    16.8 %

    Diploma

    16.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific environmental services worker skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients28.75%
    Customer Service13.15%
    Patient Rooms6.58%
    Cleanliness5.57%
    Medical Waste5.06%
  3. Complete relevant environmental services worker training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New environmental services workers 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 services worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real environmental services worker resumes.
  4. Research environmental services worker duties and responsibilities

    • Prioritize and manage projects, workload and assist EVS co-workers.
    • Strip, wax and polish floors using light and heavy power scrubbers and buffers.
    • Maintain cleanliness in all assign areas and assist in any additional janitorial duties as required.
    • Maintain professional attitude and ability to communicate effectively with patients, visitors, contractors, and co-workers.
  5. Prepare your environmental services worker resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your environmental services worker 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 services worker 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 services worker resume templates

    Build a professional environmental services worker 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 services worker resume.
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
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    Environmental Services Worker Resume
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
    Environmental Services Worker Resume
  6. Apply for environmental services worker jobs

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

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

How did you land your first environmental services worker job

Zippi

Are you an environmental services worker?

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Average environmental services worker salary

The average environmental services worker salary in the United States is $35,648 per year or $17 per hour. Environmental services worker salaries range between $26,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average environmental services worker salary
$35,648 Yearly
$17.14 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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