What is Environmental Engineering?
Environmental engineering combines scientific and engineering principles to improve and maintain the environment in order to protect human health, natural resources, and natural environments. Environmental engineering addresses emerging global challenges, such as the impact of climate change on communities and ecosystems.
Often associated with civil engineering or industrial engineering, environmental engineering includes many scientific topics and disciplines, including chemistry, biology, geology, hydrology, microbiology, physics, and mathematics. Environmental engineers work across fields and disciplines in government agencies, architecture and urban planning firms, and nonprofit environmental groups.
Environmental engineers ensure the quality of health for people and the environment through sustainable design and construction, proper waste management, and development of environment regulations and law. The field of environmental engineering is crucial for developing a prosperous and more sustainable future that benefits both communities and ecosystems.
What Do Environmental Engineers Do?
Environmental engineers create solutions that protect and improve the lives of people, plants, and animals, and also improve the quality of the environment. Environmental engineers may focus on a specific field, like water treatment and supply, recycling and waste disposal, air pollution management, or environmental impact assessment and mitigation.
Some of the work that environmental engineers do includes:
- Design and improve systems that protect the environment and public health, including water treatment facilities and air pollution control.
- Provide technical support and quality assurance for projects related to urban planning, architecture, waste disposal, natural resource extraction and management, or transportation engineering.
- Develop sustainable solutions for product manufacturing, power plants, and hazardous materials removal.
- Inspect industrial and municipal facilities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
- Design and implement environmental improvement programs.
Environmental engineers may also serve as advisors for corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations regarding environmental issues, as well as help develop environmental regulations and law.
What Careers Are There in Environmental Engineering?
Environmental engineers have many roles across the fields of sustainable design and construction, resource management, and urban planning. Careers in environmental engineering are important for keeping communities and environments safe and healthy. Environmental engineers are needed in government agencies, urban planning firms, public health organizations, and others.
Environmental engineers can also find careers in natural and water resource management, sustainable architecture and construction, industrial design, environmental regulation, and public health. Students graduating with an environmental engineering degree may also find careers in other engineering disciplines, such as civil engineering, systems engineering, industrial engineering, and chemical engineering.
Careers held by environmental engineers include:
| Occupation | Description | Mean Annual Salary | Top 10 Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Engineers | Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They work on projects such as waste treatment, site remediation, and pollution control. | $110,570 | $161,910 | |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | These professionals work to protect the environment and human health by conducting research, collecting data, and developing plans to mitigate or solve environmental problems. They often work alongside environmental engineers. | $88,640 | $134,830 | |
| Civil Engineers | Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and water systems. Many civil engineers work on environmental projects, such as designing water treatment facilities. | $107,050 | $160,990 | |
| Hydrologists | Hydrologists study water resources, focusing on the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of water. They work on projects related to flood control, water quality, and environmental preservation. | $98,130 | $139,420 | |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to both protect people from illness and injury, and protect property from damage. Their work often includes environmental safety, ensuring that projects comply with environmental regulations. | $113,770 | $166,670 | |
| Urban and Regional Planners | Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities. They often focus on sustainable development and environmental impact. | $89,730 | $128,550 | |
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Figures from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dated May 2024. |
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What Skills Do Environmental Engineers Need?
Students who enjoy and excel in math, biology, chemistry, and creative problem solving do well in environmental engineering. Environmental engineers rely on their critical thinking and communication skills in order to develop sustainable solutions and explain plans and specifications to technical and nontechnical audiences. Environmental engineers also use their interpersonal skills to coordinate with others in developing and implementing sustainable solutions. They may work on collaborative projects with government agencies, local community groups, and fellow engineers and scientists.
What Tasks Do Environmental Engineers Do?
Environmental engineers use their engineering expertise and creative problem solving skills to develop sustainable solutions for products, communities, and ecosystems. Environmental engineers tend to work in dynamic and collaborative environments, which may include traditional office settings and on-site locations. Examples of where environmental engineers work include:
- Federal, state, or local governmental agencies focused on land and resource management, infrastructure and transportation, or environmental regulations and law
- Architecture and urban planning firms
- Public health organizations
- Nonprofit environmental groups
- Municipal development agencies and organizations
- Oil, mining, and energy companies
- Automotive and aerospace testing and manufacturing companies
- Product design and manufacturing companies
How Much Do Environmental Engineers Earn?
The median entry-level salary for an environmental engineer is $64,873, according to Payscale. The mean annual salary is $110,570, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also reports that the top 10 percent of environmental engineers earn an average of $161,910.
Job prospects are strong, with a higher than average growth rate of 7 percent in the next decade.
Figures from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dated May 2024.
The Future of Environmental Engineering
The work done by environmental engineers has been needed since the dawn of early civilizations, as people learned to modify and control their environment to fit the needs of their communities. Since the B.C. era, “engineers” have been building systems to improve water quality and irrigation. Aqueducts, a Roman invention from approximately 300 B.C., are prime examples of environmental engineering projects at work in ancient times.
Modern environmental engineering began in London in the 19th century with the design and construction of the first major sewage system, which helped prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. The field expanded in the 20th century in response to widespread public concern regarding water and air pollution and other environmental quality concerns.
Today, environmental engineers design sustainable cities, maintain quality infrastructure, and keep air and water clean for all people.
Environmental engineering is vital to the future of the Earth and its people and ecosystems. With the growing population and expansion of cities and infrastructure, environmental engineers and their expertise are critical to protecting community health. As technologies continue to advance, environmental engineers will be able to further develop sustainable solutions and more efficient systems for land and resource management.
Pursuing an Environmental Engineering Degree
There are several paths you can take to a career in an environmental engineering profession. Most entry-level positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field. If you're a high school student, undergraduate academic advisor Julie Ross has some tips that can help prepare you to pursue a degree in an environmental engineering field.
Tips for High School Students
If you're currently in high school and are considering getting into an environmental engineering field, here are some things to consider.
- Focus on your biology and chemistry classes! They will form the basis for your environmental engineering education. Additionally, courses related to environmental science and geology may also help prepare you. Your enjoyment (or not!) of these courses could tell you a lot about whether or not environmental engineering may be right for you.
- Take Advanced Placement (AP) exams in biology, chemistry, and calculus, if they are available to you.
- Become familiar with your local environment. Look for opportunities to become involved in local nature conservation efforts. You can also explore workshops, events, and summer youth camp experiences offered by universities or other institutions that will give you a taste of what it would be like to be an environmental engineer.
- Read overviews of different environmental engineering degrees to get a sense for which one you may want to pursue.
Choosing a College/University for Environmental Engineering
Selecting a school where you will study an environmental engineering field can be easier if you follow these tips:
- Research colleges and universities that would put you on a successful path. It's not necessary to major in a program called environmental engineering to have a successful career in this industry! Look for degrees that fall within the environmental science and/or natural resources management umbrella.
- Make sure the schools you're considering offer accredited degrees since most employers will only consider graduates from such institutions.
- Visit the schools you're interested in and ask lots of questions about the program(s), scholarships and financial aid opportunities, and application requirements and deadlines.
- Apply to the schools you think are the right fit for you and your goals sometime between your junior year and the beginning of your senior year. Mark your calendar to make sure you don't miss deadlines.
Tips for College Students
If you’re currently in college, our College of Engineering advisor recommends considering these tips to help ensure your success in the environmental engineering field of your choice.
- Work with your academic advisor to choose the appropriate program and courses that will give you the necessary knowledge and skills for a career in an environmental engineering field.
- Gain experiences in real environmental engineering projects. Look for opportunities through student organizations, professional conferences, co-ops and internships, and research projects at your institution.
- Form relationships with faculty members in your program. These connections will help you as you look for relevant experience during and after your college career.
- Network with professionals. Whether you're at a conference or an on-campus career fair, seize every opportunity to form connections with professionals in the field—you never know when they could come in handy!
- Keep your resume up to date and brush up on your interviewing skills. Your institution may even have a dedicated career center that can help you.
