Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Occupation · SOC 19-4042.00
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Also called: Environmental Health Officer (EHO) · Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech) · Sanitarian · Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician) · Industrial Pretreatment Program Specialist (IPP Specialist) · Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician) · Public Health Sanitarian · Sanitarian Specialist · Water Quality Analyst · Water Quality Specialist · Air Analyst · Air Pollution Auditor
Job family: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-19-4042-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+4.0% by 2034)
- 5,600 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Median pay $49,490/yr
52nd-percentile task overlap — yet about 5,600 openings a year (+4% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 54th | 0.7 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 52nd | 0.2 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.2), with simple added tooling (β 0.5), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.7). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results. | 1.7% | |
| Discuss test results and analyses with customers. | 1.0% | |
| Provide information or technical or program assistance to government representatives, employers, or the general public on the issues of public health, environmental protection, or workplace safety. | 0.3% | |
| Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities. | 0.3% | |
| Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms or removing impurities from purification systems. | 0.3% | |
| Perform statistical analysis of environmental data. | 0.2% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +4.0% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 5,600 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 40,400 → 42,100 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Tasks
All 26 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution. Core · importance 4.1
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis. Core · importance 4.1
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results. Core · importance 4.0
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers. Core · importance 3.8
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards. Core · importance 3.7
- Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Weigh, analyze, or measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Calibrate microscopes or test instruments. Core · importance 3.7
- Provide information or technical or program assistance to government representatives, employers, or the general public on the issues of public health, environmental protection, or workplace safety. Core · importance 3.6
- Maintain files, such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information, or diagrams showing equipment locations. Core · importance 3.6
- Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities. Core · importance 3.5
- Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment. Core · importance 3.5
- Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation. Core · importance 3.5
- Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations. Core · importance 3.5
- Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities. Core · importance 3.4
- Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas. Core · importance 3.4
- Develop testing procedures. Supplemental · importance 3.3
- Perform statistical analysis of environmental data. Core · importance 3.3
- Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms or removing impurities from purification systems. Supplemental · importance 3.1
- Develop or implement site recycling or hazardous waste stream programs. Core · importance 3.1
- Analyze potential environmental impacts of production process changes, and recommend steps to mitigate negative impacts. Core · importance 3.0
- Direct activities of workers in laboratory. Supplemental · importance 3.0
- Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes. Core · importance 3.0
- Distribute permits, closure plans, or cleanup plans. Core · importance 2.9
- Conduct standardized tests to ensure materials or supplies used throughout power supply systems meet processing and safety specifications. Supplemental
Work activities
- Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- Record research or operational data.
- Collect environmental data or samples.
- Advise others on matters of public policy.
- Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
- Advise others on business or operational matters.
- Inspect areas for compliance with sanitation standards.
- Prepare biological samples for testing or analysis.
- Measure physical or chemical properties of materials or objects.
- Calculate weights, volumes or other characteristics of materials.
- Enforce rules or regulations.
- Coordinate enforcement of laws or regulations.
- Determine methods to minimize environmental impact of activities.
- Confer with clients to exchange information.
- Analyze environmental data.
- Set up laboratory or field equipment.
- Prepare documentation for permits or licenses.
- Inspect work environments to ensure safety.
- Analyze geological samples.
- Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
- Develop environmental sustainability plans or projects.
- Direct natural resources management or conservation programs.
- Research environmental impact of industrial or development activities.
- Inspect equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Assess compliance with environmental laws.
- Investigate system, equipment, or product failures.
- Collect samples for analysis or testing.
- Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
- Develop environmental research methods.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Essential skills
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Science | 3.4 | |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Written Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 4.0 | |
| Written Expression | 3.9 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.9 | |
| Near Vision | 3.9 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.6 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.6 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.6 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.5 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.4 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.3 | |
| Number Facility | 3.1 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.1 |
Knowledge
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.6 | |
| Chemistry | 3.5 | |
| English Language | 3.5 | |
| Biology | 3.4 | |
| Law and Government | 3.4 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.4 | |
| Mathematics | 3.4 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.0 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 45.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Preparation level
- SVP (7.0 to < 8.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Biological and Biomedical Sciences , Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians , Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies , Natural Resources and Conservation , Physical Sciences , Science Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Bachelor's Degree | 68.2% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 22.7% | |
| High School Diploma | 4.5% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.5% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 5.8 | |
| Investigative | 5.6 | |
| Conventional | 4.9 |
Interest areas
| Physical Science | 4.9 | |
| Nature/Outdoors | 4.0 | |
| Life Science | 3.9 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 3.9 | |
| Engineering | 3.3 | |
| Medical Science | 2.9 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 2.6 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 2.6 | |
| Health Care Service | 2.6 | |
| Protective Service | 2.3 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 4.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 3.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.3 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $36,130 |
| 25th percentile | $38,050 |
| Median (50th) | $49,490 |
| 75th percentile | $64,170 |
| 90th percentile | $85,630 |
| People employed | 39,390 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 17,590 | $48,560 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 5,110 | $45,940 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 2,340 | $58,210 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 1,300 | $52,150 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 1,060 | $57,390 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 640 | $68,420 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 620 | $47,530 |
| Utilities · Sector | 480 | $83,390 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 340 | $39,700 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 330 | $59,610 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 310 | $62,870 |
| Construction · Sector | 160 | $40,730 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 117.38× | 5,110 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation · National industry | 12.65× | 120 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 7.92× | 2,340 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 6.39× | 17,590 |
| Utilities · Sector | 3.24× | 480 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 2.25× | 330 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 0.94× | 1,060 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 0.92× | 620 |
Related occupations
Part of the Energy & Natural Resources and Public Service & Safety career clusters.
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians · 17-3025.00 Compare →
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health · 19-2041.00 Compare →
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors · 13-1041.01 Compare →
- Environmental Engineers · 17-2081.00 Compare →
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators · 51-8031.00 Compare →
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers · 11-9199.11 Compare →
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians · 19-4043.00 Compare →
- Water/Wastewater Engineers · 17-2051.02 Compare →
- Conservation Scientists · 19-1031.00 Compare →
- Water Resource Specialists · 11-9121.02 Compare →
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians · 19-4051.02 Compare →
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers · 47-4041.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Associate's degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences · field of study
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians · field of study
Zoom out
See where this work sits in the bigger picture.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health show 52nd-percentile AI task overlap — and about 5,600 annual U.S. openings
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health rank in the 52nd percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 5,600 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+4%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $49,490, across about 39,390 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health show 52nd-percentile AI task overlap — and about 5,600 annual U.S. openings • Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health rank in the 52nd percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 5,600 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+4%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $49,490, across about 39,390 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4042-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4042-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4042-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-19-4042-00,
title = {Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4042-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.