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Environmental Engineer Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

An Environmental Engineer, or Environmental Engineering Specialist, is responsible for using environmental science principles to improve public health, reduce pollution and remove environmental hazards from the community. Their duties include collecting environmental samples and data, performing land assessments and designing systems to safely eliminate waste.

Environmental Engineer Duties and Responsibilities

Depending on your experience, tasks for Environmental Engineers may include:

  • Land assessments for industrial, commercial or residential sites for environmental impact if someone were to build on that site
  • Use of specialized equipment to test soil, water and air of a construction area
  • Improve waste management system design
  • Reclamation and disposal of air, water and land
  • Find better solutions for site cleanup on a construction site
  • Evaluate current systems and design innovative ways to improve or replace the existing systems or processes
  • Field observation and field sample collections
  • Investigate, record and compile reports for environmental-related complaints
  • Pollution-control and waste treatment planning
  • Develop guidelines for the disposal of hazardous materials
  • Act as a regulatory arm for a companies compliance with waste disposal and management

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Environmental Engineer Job Description Examples

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What Does an Environmental Engineer Do?

Environmental Engineers typically work for environmental consulting agencies and public works departments to coordinate waste management. They implement systems for protecting water and air quality, preserving land and removing contamination. Environmental Engineers observe sites for future construction, produce reports on environmental impact and make recommendations for how to safely conduct large-scale projects. Environmental Engineers design regulatory controls for communities to use when working with potentially hazardous materials. They coordinate soil, water and air quality testing and train public works staff on how to use specialized equipment.

Environmental Engineer Skills and Qualifications

A successful Environmental Engineer candidate will have various prerequisite skills/qualifications needed to complete their duties, such as:

  • Problem-solving skills in order to find the right solutions to environmental issues like waste disposal and hazardous water
  • Interpersonal skills, as you will be working with different entities for the common good of the community
  • Strong engineering background
  • Planning and organization skills
  • A general interest in the environment and the desire to help make it better

Environmental Engineer Salary Expectations

The average salary for an Environmental Engineer is $75,832 per year in the United States. Salary estimates are based on 626 salaries submitted anonymously to Indeed by Environmental Engineer employees, users and collected from past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months. The typical tenure for an Environmental Engineer is less than one year.

Environmental Engineer Salary Expectations

2025-10-0132000.0093099.04185000.00YEARLY
  • Common salary: 93099.04 YEARLY
  • Typical salaries range from 32000.00 - 185000.00 YEARLY
  • Find more information on Indeed Salaries

*Indeed data – 2025-10-01

Environmental Engineer Education and Training Requirements

Environmental Engineers usually need a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions. While there are degrees for Ecological Engineers, some may get a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, chemical engineering or general engineering. A degree from an ABET-accredited program will combine a bachelor’s and master’s degree, as well as a continuing education path to getting licensed. Entry-level engineers will usually take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. After an entry-level engineer gains about four years of experience, they are eligible to take the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. This is the typical licensure for an Environmental Engineer.

Environmental Engineer Experience Requirements

Typical experience requirements include the degree from an ABET-accredited program as mentioned above, as well as a passing score on the FE (Fundamentals of Engineer) exam. If coming into a more senior position, employers look to see if you have your PE (Professional Engineering) license and other relevant experience. Experience may include working in the architecture, engineering and construction industry or with a federal or local government entity.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

If this is not what you are looking for, Indeed has other job description samples available. There are additional degrees that can branch into environmental engineering that may be more suited for your job opening. These include: 

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Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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Frequently asked questions about Environmental Engineers

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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