The median annual wage for environmental science and protection technicians was $43,030 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,890, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $71,860.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for environmental science and protection technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Local government, excluding education and hospitals
$45,720
Engineering services
43,930
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
42,190
State government, excluding education and hospitals
41,160
Testing laboratories
37,010
Environmental science and protection technicians typically work full time. In cold climates the ground may freeze, thus limiting the ability to take samples. This may cause some workers to work seasonally. They also may need to travel to meet with clients or to perform fieldwork. This may occasionally require technicians to work many or irregular hours.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
Median annual wages, May 2015
Life, physical, and social science technicians
$43,490
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
$43,030
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
