What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in the U.S. earn more than $82,220 a year — the middle 80% land between $52,520 and $140,010. About 89,250 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$82,220typical pay / year
89,250people in this work
$140,010+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Protecting1
Conduct research or investigation
+Compile a seven‑day inspection dossier on the municipal composting site at Riverside Road: collect recent…
Conduct research or investigation
+Compile a seven‑day inspection dossier on the municipal composting site at Riverside Road: collect recent emission and leachate test results, cross‑check against pollutant thresholds in the 2018 waste regs, and summarise evidence gaps and recommended follow‑up sampling.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Learning1
Assess environmental impact
+Survey the compost site and produce an environmental impact note that quantifies nutrient runoff risk,…
Assess environmental impact
+Survey the compost site and produce an environmental impact note that quantifies nutrient runoff risk, greenhouse gas estimates, nearby waterway exposure, and recommends three mitigation steps tied to current pollution laws for the county regulator by next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESRI ArcGISESCOjob descriptions
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Analysing1
Analyze environmental data
+Aggregate the last six months of temperature, moisture and leachate measurements, clean anomalies, run the…
Analyze environmental data
+Aggregate the last six months of temperature, moisture and leachate measurements, clean anomalies, run the statistical trends and a regression to predict pathogen risk, then deliver a data-backed two-page summary with figures to the farm manager by Monday morning.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work11
Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
+Assemble a weekly impact-monitoring brief for the development team showing odor complaints, runoff test…
Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
+Assemble a weekly impact-monitoring brief for the development team showing odor complaints, runoff test results, heavy metal levels, and buffer breaches from the construction site, highlight immediate risks and two mitigation actions for the site manager by Wednesday noon.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
+Create a one-day training agenda and hands-on checklist for students and technicians on compost pile…
Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
+Create a one-day training agenda and hands-on checklist for students and technicians on compost pile management, temperature monitoring, pathogen reduction steps, and safety PPE, then book the lab and email the participant list and prework two weeks before the session.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys.
+Design the field data collection plan for a two-year compost research study defining sample types, sample…
Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys.
+Design the field data collection plan for a two-year compost research study defining sample types, sample sizes, frequency, instrument calibration, chain-of-custody, and personnel responsibilities so labs can produce comparable results.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsO*NET
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Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts.
+Build the research model outline that links temperature, moisture, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and aeration to…
Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts.
+Build the research model outline that links temperature, moisture, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and aeration to pathogen reduction and emission rates, specify variables, hypothesized relationships, and the statistical tests to validate over seasonal cycles.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelIBM SPSS StatisticsO*NET
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Analyse environmental data
+Analyse the last six months of leachate and soil chemistry readings from the east compost bay, flag any…
Analyse environmental data
+Analyse the last six months of leachate and soil chemistry readings from the east compost bay, flag any values breaching threshold limits under the Environmental Protection Act, produce a clean data table with trends and uncertainty notes, and recommend next tests by Tuesday.
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Develop environmental remediation strategies
+Develop a pragmatic remediation strategy for the contaminated turnaround area using the site’s soil…
Develop environmental remediation strategies
+Develop a pragmatic remediation strategy for the contaminated turnaround area using the site’s soil chemistry, groundwater flow notes, and buffer constraints, list required permits under current pollution legislation, cost estimate, and an implementation timeline for stakeholder sign-off next Friday.
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Report on environmental issues
+Draft a concise incident report on the odour complaint cluster by the north boundary: summarise monitoring…
Report on environmental issues
+Draft a concise incident report on the odour complaint cluster by the north boundary: summarise monitoring data, regulatory exceedances, likely sources, community complaints logged, and three recommended mitigations for the operations team and council by Wednesday morning.
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Perform investigations for health risks
+Investigate composting sites for health risks: visit the Ridgeway transfer station and two community…
Perform investigations for health risks
+Investigate composting sites for health risks: visit the Ridgeway transfer station and two community composters, collect air and leachate samples, compare results to regulatory thresholds, flag acute exceedances and recommend immediate controls by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptions
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Communicate findings to stakeholders
+Send stakeholders a concise briefing on recent monitoring: summarise ammonia and pathogen trends, attach key…
Communicate findings to stakeholders
+Send stakeholders a concise briefing on recent monitoring: summarise ammonia and pathogen trends, attach key graphs and recommended actions, request approvals from the parks manager and public health officer by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Develop new technological production processes
+Design and test a pilot production process to reduce odour and leachate: model aeration schedules, trial two…
Develop new technological production processes
+Design and test a pilot production process to reduce odour and leachate: model aeration schedules, trial two feedstock mixes on the pilot pad, record emissions and cure times, then recommend scale-up criteria.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Present their findings in scientific reports
+Draft the scientific report on the composting trial: include background, methods, statistical analysis of…
Present their findings in scientific reports
+Draft the scientific report on the composting trial: include background, methods, statistical analysis of emissions, results with confidence intervals, discussion of remediation implications, and clear conclusions for the regulator.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft WordESCO
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses