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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Part of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, in the Science and Mathematics pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 19-2041.00

What the work is

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

On a typical day

  • Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
  • Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
  • Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
  • Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.
  • Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
  • Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.

What it pays

$92,350
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $57,200
Experienced workers reach $161,690
  1. $57k10th
  2. $65k25th
  3. $92kMedian
  4. $127k75th
  5. $162k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $57,200, 25th $65,050, Median $92,350, 75th $126,980, 90th $161,690

About 370 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+22.1%

employment change in the Alamo region, 272 to 332 jobs · U.S. +4%

32

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 8,500

272

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 90,300

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension4.8
  2. Writing4.6
  3. Science4.5
  4. Active Listening4.3
  5. Speaking4.1
  6. Complex Problem Solving4.0
  7. Critical Thinking4.3
  8. Active Learning4.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less21%
  2. Some college1%
  3. Bachelor's degree60%
  4. Master's degree14%
  5. Doctoral or professional4%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northwest Vista
  • San Antonio
  1. Geography and Environmental Sustainability

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  2. Environmental Science

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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