Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
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.
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $49,490 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £28,210 a year for Laboratory technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £24,975 to £34,028 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3111). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Environmental science and protection technicians, including health, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Environmental Science — B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) in Environmental Science (three or four years)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Biology
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
A day in the life
You start the morning loading sampling gear into the van and heading to a factory to collect wastewater and soil samples for pollution tests. You record exactly where and when each sample was taken, then seal and label them carefully. Mid-morning you inspect a workshop for noise and air quality, taking readings and noting possible hazards. After lunch you return to the lab, calibrate the instruments and prepare the samples for analysis, measuring particles such as lead and dust. Later you turn the results into reports and charts, then call the factory manager to explain what the tests show and what needs fixing. Filling in sample custody forms and data logs is tedious but vital, since the results may be used in enforcement. The work can be messy and sometimes risky, but finding a hidden pollution problem and helping to fix it makes you feel you are protecting people and the environment.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Environmental science and protection technicians, including health do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Environmental science and protection technicians, including health?
You start the morning loading sampling gear into the van and heading to a factory to collect wastewater and soil samples for pollution tests. You record exactly where and when each sample was taken, then seal and label them carefully. Mid-morning you inspect a workshop for noise and air quality, taking readings and noting possible hazards. After lunch you return to the lab, calibrate the instruments and prepare the samples for analysis, measuring particles such as lead and dust.
How much does Environmental science and protection technicians, including health earn?
The median annual salary for Environmental science and protection technicians, including health in the US is $49,490.
What is the job outlook for Environmental science and protection technicians, including health?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 40,400 workers.
How do I become environmental science and protection technicians, including health?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Environmental science and protection technicians, including health need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Monitoring. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Environmental science and protection technicians, including health?
Our AI-durability model gives Environmental science and protection technicians, including health a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.