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Environmental Jobs for Scientists and Engineers

Conservation scientists usually work independently, but environmental engineers, environmental scientists, and hydrologists are often part of a team. These workers gather and analyze information to create solutions to the problems they study. This specialized knowledge comes from college study in math and sciences, including biology, chemistry, geography, and statistics. In addition, good communications skills are essential for writing reports and sharing project results with employers, colleagues, or the public.

Conservation scientists develop strategies to help manage, improve, and protect the Earth's resources. To devise these protec-tive strategies, conservation scientists often collect samples of soil, water, and plants, as well as record data on plant and animal life. After they have analyzed the samples and data, these workers create a conservation plan. Their plan offers strategies for optimizing resources while minimizing damage to the surrounding environment. There are several types of conservation scientists, and they often have different job titles.

One of the most common types is range manager. These workers study and care for rangelands the open expanses of land located primarily in the Western States and Alaska that contain natural resources, such as wildlife habitats, watersheds, and mineral and energy sources. The overall goal of range managers is to safeguard long-term sustainability of these resources, thereby ensuring a future source of grazing land, clean water, and wildlife. The specific duties of range managers vary. These duties might include developing plans to manage natural resources, conducting studies to determine an activity's impact on an area, assisting in managing ranches, or restoring damaged ecosystems.

Conservation scientists held about 15,800 jobs in May 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Federal, State, and local governments employed nearly 75 percent of these workers. Other conservation scientists are employed by social advocacy groups, including nonprofit organizations, and by consulting firms. A small portion is self-employed. Soil and water conservation scientists work throughout the United States, particularly in counties that need help managing their wetlands and other conservation areas. In contrast, range managers work almost entirely in Alaska and the Western States, where most of the Nation's rangelands are located. Workers will also be needed to develop erosion and sediment control plans and to monitor water quality. And States are expect-ed to employ conservation scientists to design ways to prevent water from being polluted by agricultural producers and industrial plants. The mean annual wages of conservation scientists in May 2008 were $60,170, accord-ing to BLS. Mean wages were $69,090 for conservation scientists in the Federal Govern-ment and $51,520 in local government.

Environmental engineers develop methods, systems, and products to prevent or repair environmental harm. In compliance with numerous laws and regulations, these workers use principles of science and engineering to solve a variety of environmental problems. Environmental engineers may specialize in the types of problems they solve. Some assess the likely impact of different projects on air and water quality, animal habitats, and other aspects of the natural and human environment and then devise ways to avoid or minimize harm.

Environmental engineers held about 52,590 jobs in May 2008, according to BLS. About 30 percent worked for Federal, State, or local governments. An additional 30 percent worked for engineering services firms. BLS projects that employment of envi-ronmental engineers will grow at a rate that is much faster than the average for all oc-cupations between 2006 and 2016. Increased demand for these engineers will result from a need to comply with environmental laws and regulations and to develop methods for cleanup of existing hazards. In May 2008, according to BLS, mean annual wages of environmental engineers were $77,970. Environ-mental engineers who worked for the Federal Government had mean wages of $92,750. State government workers had mean wages of $65,320, and local government workers had mean wages of $66,510.

Environmental scientists conduct research to help identify and lessen environmental hazards that affect both humans and wildlife. This research involves collecting and analyz-ing samples of air, food, water, and soil to determine the state of the environment. Using their skills and training, these scientists attempt to solve problems ranging from reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to preventing the loss of habitats to monitoring waste disposal. After environmental scientists identify a problem, they come up with ways to reduce or eliminate its negative effects.

In May 2008, according to BLS, environmental scientists and specialists, including health, held about 80,100 jobs. About 45 percent of environmen-tal scientists worked for Federal, State, and local governments. A significant portion of the remaining scientists were dispersed among management, scientific and technical consulting services and architectural, engineering, and related services. Employment is projected to grow much faster than average for environmental scientists, according to BLS. Job growth will be driven by the desire to offset environmental damage caused by an increase in population. Demand for environmental scientists will also result from the need to comply with complex environmental laws and regulations. BLS data show that in May 2008, the mean annual wages for environmental scientists were $65,280. Mean wages were $58,040 for these scientists in local government; $70,450 in management, scientific, and technical consulting services; and $63,990 in engineering services.

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Source: Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Alice Ramsey, 6/2009