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

What is a junior environmental scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Shannon Farrell Ph.D.

Junior Environmental Scientists are tasked with taking a sample of water, soil, and air to perform laboratory tests. They are also good Analysts; they prepare and analyze data, develop plans to prevent and control environmental problems. They are also good reporters; they present and report the outcomes of every research conducted. In some situations, they advise policymakers and governments on related environmental issues and work with private industries to reduce environmental problems.

There are some skills you need to need to have to increase your chances of getting this job. Some of them include critical-thinking skills: You also need to be able to think outside the box. Most of the time, there are some results that may differ from the actual results, and the only choice you have is to think outside the box. Interpersonal Skills: To be able to succeed in this job, you have to improve your interpersonal skills to help you relate well with your colleagues. Problem-solving skills: The major reason why you take up this job is to help solve problems. You must have a passion for solving problems in order to succeed in this job.

What general advice would you give to a junior environmental scientist?

Shannon Farrell Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Your career path is not likely to be one step after another in the same prescribed direction. In today's unique circumstances, be prepared to be flexible, open-minded, and alert for new and unexpected opportunities. Be ready to take multiple jobs in sequence - it is exceedingly rare these days that one finds their 'forever' long term job right off the bat and right out of undergrad. Try things, test, experiment - identifying what spheres of work you like and what spheres you don't like is all a valuable part of data gathering and adaptively moving forward.

If it is hard to find a job in your ideal field, find jobs that provide the opportunity for developing crossover skills: technical and field skills, research skills, writing skills, communication, or management skills. Leverage opportunities to improve and display your executive function skills - planning, organizing, managing, leadership, mentorship, etc. These can all be valuable efforts, even when you aren't working in your preferred scientific field. Be your advocate - make contacts, network, ask for advice, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone (it may be uncomfortable, but you will survive!)

ScoreJunior Environmental ScientistUS Average

Salary

6.9

Avg. Salary $88,827

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 35.42%

male 64.58%

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

Key steps to become a junior environmental scientist

Explore junior environmental scientist education requirements

Most common junior environmental scientist degrees

Bachelor's

92.9 %

Master's

4.8 %

Associate

2.4 %

Start to develop specific junior environmental scientist skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Collection	41.17%
GIS	26.01%
Technical Reports	10.96%
Site Investigations	5.58%
Hazardous Materials	4.29%

Complete relevant junior environmental scientist training and internships

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

Research junior environmental scientist duties and responsibilities

Manage hazardous waste, biohazardous waste, radioactive waste, industrial hygiene, respirator protection, and MSDS database.
Collect soil and groundwater samples; conduct environmental reviews and investigations; and perform oversight activities for various environmental management activities.
Perform environmental and geotechnical exploratory boring field logging and reporting.

Prepare your junior environmental scientist resume

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

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