Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for senior environmental technicians in the United States
Are senior environmental technician jobs in demand?
Senior environmental technician job and salary trends over time
Senior environmental technician jobs over time
Senior environmental technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 186 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 191 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 179 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 180 | 0.00% |
Average senior environmental technician salary over time
Senior environmental technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,209 | $25.58 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $52,978 | $25.47 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $51,341 | $24.68 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $50,585 | $24.32 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $49,140 | $23.62 | +2.7% |
Senior environmental technician jobs by state
Most common states for senior environmental technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 240 | 18% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 123 | 17% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 102 | 14% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 80 | 13% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 791 | 12% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 82 | 12% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 361 | 11% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 585 | 10% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 371 | 10% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 193 | 10% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 140 | 10% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 733 | 9% |
| 13 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 525 | 9% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 523 | 9% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 96 | 9% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 89 | 9% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 968 | 8% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 731 | 8% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 457 | 8% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 141 | 8% |
Most common cities for senior environmental technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deer Park | 2 | 6% | $44,810 |
| 2 | Mishawaka | 1 | 2% | $39,759 |
| 3 | Santa Maria | 1 | 1% | $70,479 |
| 4 | Westminster | 1 | 1% | $37,302 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $37,946 |
| 6 | Bakersfield | 1 | 0% | $69,777 |
| 7 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $44,344 |
| 8 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $73,054 |
Senior Environmental Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior environmental technician experts
University of Rhode Island
Bellarmine University
University of New Hampshire
Washington State University
Utah State University
Kent State University
Drake University
Gonzaga University
Gannon University
Lafayette College
Elon University
Tarleton State University
Kennesaw State University
West Virginia Wesleyan College
University of Minnesota
Concordia University
Barnard College
Brown University
Albright College
Simona Trandafir
Associate Professor & Undergraduate Program DirectorUniversity of Rhode Island
Environmental/Natural Resources Management And Policy
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Simona Trandafir: I would advise graduates to leverage the interdisciplinary nature of their studies. Utilize your understanding of both economic theory and environmental science to address complex sustainability issues. It's important to stay informed about current and emerging environmental policies and to develop an adaptive mindset to respond effectively to the dynamic nature of global environmental challenges. Engaging in continuous professional development and participating in industry conferences can also greatly benefit their career growth and networking opportunities.
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Martha Carlson Mazur PhD: Be clear to yourself on what you value and how you want to use your unique skills and knowledge to change your piece of the world. Then, connect with people to find shared values and build relationships to enact your vision while being open to opportunities you might not have considered.
What Senior Environmental Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. James Malley Jr: Some of this is market driven by the type of employer (public versus private), the location of the job (major metropolitan area versus a more rural or smaller city), etc. In the foreseeable future due to Environmental Engineering becoming popular around 1970 there are many people approaching retirement age (“the silver tsunami”) so jobs will likely be plentiful which will help. So, to maximize starting salaries you will want to do your homework and study the different employers, regions, etc. to see what salary ranges are realistic. Then pursue the opportunities that have the higher starting salaries if that is your priority (clearly an Environmental Engineer working for a major industry such as gas and oil will have a higher starting salary offer than one working for municipal governments) and also carefully interview the firms when they invite you to interview to find out how they handle things like overtime, bonuses, salary review frequency, etc.
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. James Malley Jr: There is general agreement that “Big Data” will continue to be a major emphasis so learning the use of python or similar will be important. No doubt AI/ML will impact the Environmental Engineering field so becoming more familiar with AI/ML, specifically how it is used as well as recognizing when it is being used effectively and when it is being used incorrectly or producing results that are unrealistic and impractical. As your career advances in the next 3-5 years you will also find the soft skills already mentioned as well as developing better management and leadership skills will be important because surely by year 5 others will be working for you and you will be managing them.
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Holly Henning: To maximize salary potential, an employee needs to first demonstrate a strong work ethic, a desire to learn and the ability to work on diverse teams. Employees that demonstrate their ability to contribute their unique expertise to a multi-disciplinary team are more likely to be involved with other learning opportunities. We encourage employees to continue their education by being involved in associations, working with our extension and research programs and field days and exploring ways to build their network and opportunities. In some careers, the ability to proactively represent an employer on social media and help others to see how great it is to work for their company can help them into higher paying positions.
What Senior Environmental Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniella Hirschfeld PhD: Humanity today faces tremendous environmental challenges - chemicals in our water and air are causing major health problems, climate change is leading to increased disaster events, and biodiversity loss is at an all time high. Being an environmental designer allows people to address these challenges head on. It also gives people a chance to make other people's lives more livable, healthier, and happier.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Environmental Technician?
Dr. Christopher Post PhD: Start local and get an internship while an undergraduate. Any position with the federal lands agencies (parks, forests, BLM, etc.) are tough to get and you have to work your way in to that federal system. Start local with regional/county/city parks and forests and work up to the federal level. Also keep that balance between the science (the biology and earth science) and the more social science/humanities (ethics, economics, communications) material you’ve learned as undergraduate. These jobs are all about communicating complex scientific/environmental issues with the general public so that context is very important. You have to be nimble and know both areas (the science and the social science) and their overlap.
Keith Summerville
Levitt Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science, Paul and Claudia Schickler Executive Director, Jay N. Darling InstituteDrake University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What general advice would you give to a Senior Environmental Technician?
Keith Summerville: 2. #1 is how to leverage analytics and generative AI to design and implement innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
What Senior Environmental Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Keith Summerville: 1. To anyone getting a start in this field- build your professional network as early as possible- attend volunteer work days, try going to low cost local conferences or meetings (local Audubon Societies, Iowa Prairie Network, Society for Ecological Restoration Midwest Chapter, Ducks Unlimited). The more people in the field you know, the more opportunities you will be exposed to.
Dr. Greg Gordon Professor/Chair
Professor/ChairGonzaga University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Greg Gordon Professor/Chair: We find that graphical information systems (GIS) skills are in high demand. Soft skills such as ability to work as a team, develop work plans, collaborate and communicate with diverse stakeholders, communicate technical and scientific information, are, and will be very important in the near and long term future.
Liu Cao Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Engr.Gannon University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Liu Cao Ph.D.: Obtaining licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) can significantly enhance your career prospects and credibility. The requirements typically include passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, gaining relevant work experience, and then passing the PE exam.
Internships, co-op programs, and volunteer work in your field can provide you with valuable experience and skills that are attractive to employers. Practical experience can also lead to higher starting salaries and better job opportunities.
The field of environmental science is rapidly evolving, influenced by global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Keeping abreast of industry trends and technological advancements can make you more competitive in the job market. Employers value professionals who are proactive about their continuing education and professional development.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Environmental Technician?
Aaron Haines Ph.D., Certified Wildlife Biologist ®: Having more technical skill sets can help you get entry level positions that can lead to higher pay positions. These include the ability to extract DNA from biological samples and understand the process of DNA sequencing, be familiar with geographical information systems (GIS) software such as ArcPro, ArcGIS, QGIS, be familiar with programming language such as Phyton and R statical programming, and government policies that impact your field of study.
Be a member of a professional organization and attend their conferences. This will allow you the opportunity to learn from others, network, and meet potential future employers.
Dru Germanosk Ph.D.
Dr. Ervin R. VanArtsdalen Professor of GeologyLafayette College
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
What skills will help Senior Environmental Technicians earn the most?
Dru Germanosk Ph.D.: A deep foundation in the sciences with a focus on problem-solving along with the ability to function at the nexus of economics, politics, and policy.
Will Pluer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of EngineeringElon University
Physics & Engineering Department
What soft skills should all Senior Environmental Technicians possess?
Will Pluer Ph.D.: Within the job, time management is probably the most important. An employer will be impressed if you're finishing work before your deadlines. To get the job in the first place, professionalism is very important. Submit a clean and attractive resume with your application and then show up to an interview dressed for the job.
Kartik Venkataraman Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorTarleton State University
Department of Mechanical, Environmental and Civil Engineering
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Environmental Technicians?
Kartik Venkataraman Ph.D.: Familiarity with relevant regional, state, and federal regulations and compliance measures is critical for environmental engineers. Knowledge of environmental site assessments and remediation programs is a useful technical skill as well. On the project management side, skills such as preparing cost estimates and permit applications are important. Whereas earlier, many consulting firms would hire draftspersons to prepare design drawings and specifications, it is expected that the engineers perform these tasks these days - therefore, experience and proficiency with programs such as AutoCAD or Microstation or Civil 3D, and ArcGIS is imperative.
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Environmental ScienceKennesaw State University
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
What Senior Environmental Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.: I think the best advice I can offer recent graduates is to be as flexible as possible. Being willing to relocate, for example, vastly expands the number of potential jobs they can apply to. Applying for positions that might not be exactly where they want to go, but might give them the experience or skills they need to get to their desired career after a year or two also will help open more doors. So if you can't find your ideal job right away, consider that internship or volunteer opportunity that will make you more marketable in the future.
What will help Senior Environmental Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Dan Ferreira Ph.D.: In environmental science, GIS is becoming a requirement for a lot more jobs. It has always been a useful skillset, but it has been integrated into a lot more jobs in the environmental field than 5 or 10 years ago. We require all of our environmental science majors to take at least one GIS class for this reason, but we have several others available as electives and our students can even pursue a GIS certificate through our Geography department using elective credits for our degree program. Coming from an environmental consulting background, I also tell students to consider getting their 40-hour HAZWOPER certification if they are interested in that field. It's required for any job where you deal with hazardous materials or work on contaminated sites, so having one of those already under your belt when you apply for a job makes you much more appealing to employers since they don't have to pay for you to get it if they hire you.
Joseph Niederhauser Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of BiologyWest Virginia Wesleyan College
Department of Biology and Environmental Science
What skills will help Senior Environmental Technicians earn the most?
Joseph Niederhauser Ph.D.: Having technical skills will help you get a job, but more advanced degrees, certificates, and experience using those skills will help you earn more. Even volunteering for state or federal agencies will help you get those skills and experience. Many federal agencies, especially the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, offer directorate programs to get experience prior to finishing your degree, and when you complete your degree, the program will help to place you into a job within the agency.
Erin Surdo Ph.D.
Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Minnesota
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering
What skills stand out on Senior Environmental Technician resumes?
Erin Surdo Ph.D.: Students with strong oral communication and project management skills and technical background in material balances and fluid mechanics often succeed in environmental engineering careers.
Dr. Pascale Biron Ph.D.
ProfessorConcordia University
Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Environmental Technicians?
Dr. Pascale Biron Ph.D.: - Geographical Information Systems, remote sensing, and geospatial data analysis
- Statistics
- Computer programming
Logan Brenner Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Environmental ScienceBarnard College
Environmental Science Department
What skills stand out on Senior Environmental Technician resumes?
Logan Brenner Ph.D.: It is really impressive to see some type of research experience outlined on a resume and related output, such as a presentation or poster at a conference or some other public venue or an article. It is important that you clearly explain the research project on the resume or CV to highlight its relevance to whatever job you are applying for. Maybe the content is relevant, or instead, it is the skills that you learned. Honestly, it is becoming much more commonplace to see a research project on a resume, so I would almost say that it is a critical component. Conducting research indicates that you can work independently and/or in a team, solve problems, and think creatively and critically. Summarizing your findings in a conference presentation or a write-up shows that you can distill and communicate your most important and compelling conclusions and that you can finish a project.
What soft skills should all Senior Environmental Technicians possess?
Logan Brenner Ph.D.: It is rare that someone will solve a problem, answer a research question, or make a discovery on their own. As is the case in many science fields, collaboration is key, so working in a team is critical. To do this effectively, you must collaborate with people who may have different work styles than you, be comfortable with delegation and self-assigning responsibilities, communicate and resolve conflict, know when to be a leader, and follow someone else's lead, and manage your time. From an environmental science perspective, our world is becoming ever more complex, and the best way to address complex problems is with a group of diverse minds. We need to have an open mind, start approaching problems creatively, and consider the value of having varied educational and professional training and multiple perspectives.
Your science will mean little and have minimal impact if you can't explain it to anyone who asks. As an environmental scientist, you will undoubtedly have to communicate your work to varied audiences ranging from professionals in your field to the general public. Therefore, you need to recognize your audiences and meet them at their level to get your ideas across. What is most impressive is not a lecture full of unnecessary jargon that obscures your point but instead a few succinct and eloquent sentences using universally understood language.
What skills will help Senior Environmental Technicians earn the most?
Logan Brenner Ph.D.: Suppose by earn we are referring to earning money. In that case, you want to hone skills applicable to a wide variety of careers and fields. Many people call these transferrable skills. Being able to code and work with large amounts of data are critical skills to any STEM field and are becoming more relevant in nearly every sector. If you can get experience coding or working with data in a classroom setting, that is great. If you can also get some hands-on experience applying those skills to a research project, independent study, or during an internship, even better. Being comfortable working with numbers, i.e., proficient in math, is also valuable. Numerous soft skills will also help you excel in the workplace, such as being flexible and ready to pivot when your work takes you in a new direction, ease with public speaking and communication, and self-confidence. Believing in yourself will make it easier for others to believe in you. This is much easier said than done, and many successful people struggle with imposter syndrome and managing their own self-confidence. It is totally normal but something that you should prioritize throughout your professional career.
What technical skills for a Senior Environmental Technician stand out to employers?
Dawn King Ph.D.: I find that many technical skills can be taught, so employers often look for candidates with drive and those who can demonstrate they have good time management skills. Further, employers often ask me to speak to the candidate's ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Environmental Technicians?
Dawn King Ph.D.: In my opinion, a good job out of college helps the graduate build skill sets and networks toward their long-term goals. It need not be a permanent position or in the graduate's "area of expertise" to be beneficial. This could be as complex as learning new computer models or as mundane as learning what you don't want to do.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Environmental Technician job market given the pandemic?
David Osgood: The post-pandemic workplace will be more complex, require more versatility, and likely experience greater interactions within an increasingly diverse workforce. This will primarily result from an increasing presence of virtual platforms for exchange of ideas and other routine business. Some practices will become easier as a result but new challenges will also emerge. Institutions are likely to adopt more flexibility into the workplace so they are prepared to react to employee demand for increased work-life balance (e.g. strain on child-support) or less predictability in supply and delivery (e.g. changes in transportation). The job market has always required specialized skills and in-depth disciplinary knowledge but, increasingly, positions will open for people that are able to effectively coordinate activities across disciplines and cultures. Institutions will become more co-dependent to increase the ability to adapt to market changes and changing regulations. Interdisciplinarity, the combination of more than one discipline into activities, will become a more explicit requirement within the working world to allow employers to bring complexity and flexibility into their business model. The interdisciplinary nature of fields such as environmental studies where psychology, biology, ecology, and ethics are equally leveraged to address problems, will be called upon to create a network of professionals that are able to work efficiently together. There could even be an increase in an emerging category of profession dedicated to helping a business or institution adapt, where interdisciplinary training will be a cornerstone.
What skills stand out on Senior Environmental Technician resumes?
David Osgood: Adaptability has always been an invaluable asset in the working world and will become more important in the post-pandemic environment. Individuals with interdisciplinary study, by virtue of the field, are more likely to have received formal training in being flexible and adaptable. The workplace was already becoming more complex leading up to 2020. Professionals cannot be intimidated by switching between software platforms or learning new means of interpersonal interactions as exchanges become increasingly virtual and as institutions become more interdependent.
Versatile communication in the workplace will be another area where the interdisciplinary skillset is increasingly marketable. The coming generation of professionals will need to easily toggle between the language of the economist and the biologist and have at least a rudimentary understanding of their respective methodologies and perspectives.
Adaptability as a skill will be important to address, for example, which pre-pandemic practices will become part of the new order in the working world and which practices will not. There will be a tendency to return to "business as usual". Institutions, however, will look toward tele-commuting and virtual meetings as a replacement for traditional business travel and will also forge more partnerships with other organizations. An interdisciplinary employee who is able to work across multiple platforms and recognize the inherent challenges and opportunities to a diverse working environment will be an invaluable asset. Similarly, the employee who is just as capable of independent work as they are at working with others, will stand apart.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Environmental Technicians to find work opportunities?
David Osgood: There is unpredictability moving forward in where, geographically, workforce demand will increase, especially as employers adapt to a post-pandemic setting. There will also be less demand on emerging professionals to relocate to specific regions of the country (or the world), as virtual work becomes more commonplace. At the same time, work in interdisciplinary fields such as environmental studies, is predicted to become more available in regions experiencing higher than average population growth, particularly in urban centers. Modern cities are attempting to make themselves more attractive to new professionals and so are creating incentives for businesses to start up or expand their operations. Areas experiencing higher growth, such as the sunbelt urban centers of Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Raleigh, among others, are requiring more interdisciplinary environmental professionals to keep up with development. Urban planning itself eventually demands more work at the intersection of multiple disciplines (e.g. public policy and environmental regulations, equity and diversity, public health and safety).