5 Career Opportunities for Engineers in the Environmental Industry

From the disposal of wastewater to natural resources collection, humans’ impact on the environment is becoming increasingly apparent. It is where environmental engineers come into play. They work in tandem with the national and State environmental agencies to maintain a clean environment and achieve sustainable growth. Environmental engineers use their skills to design and carry out solutions to maintain or increase productivity while simultaneously protecting the environment.

For a rewarding and lucrative engineering career in the environmental industry, check out these jobs:

1. Water Project Manager

Water Project Managers are responsible for delivering clean water to residents living around the world. You can get this job if you have a master’s degree in water management. A higher degree increases your knowledge about the field and sets you apart on job applications. The other roles that you can apply for include stormwater manager and flood risk manager. Even more beneficial is a background in civil engineering, since jobs in the environment industry deal closely with the design, construction, and maintenance of the systems and buildings that allow towns and cities to function correctly.

“According to the SimplyHired website, a water project manager’s average pay scale is approximately $74,000. “

2. Senior Environmental Engineer

A bachelor’s degree in the environmental industry can help you land a job as an Environmental Engineer. Pursuing a higher degree can help you advance your skills and get a leadership position job. The Senior Environmental Engineer’s role is to lead projects, oversee and mentor subordinates, work closely with management, and meet budgets and deadlines. This job requires the experience of approximately ten years in the field, and your pay scale can be around $92,000.

3. Environmental Health and Safety Director

This job requires a master’s from an environmental degree. Being an Environmental Health and Safety Director, you will be responsible for ensuring that companies comply with regulations to protect the environment. You may also need to develop and promote new solutions to encourage sustainable practices and designs.

Some other responsibilities of environmental health and safety director include:
• Reporting sustainability initiatives to the public.
• Explaining the business risks of failing to ensure health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Creating and managing a sustainability program for the company.
• Developing partnerships to promote sustainable practices across the business.

“The average annual salary of Environmental Health and Safety Director can vary from $103,961 – $170,000.” ~Payscale

4. Environmental Engineering Consultant

Consulting services are on the rise in almost every industry throughout the world. To pursue your career as an Environmental Engineering Consultant, a bachelor’s degree is a must; however, some clients prefer a master’s degree. Completing your higher degree will allow you to specialize in a particular facet of your field. You can also pursue certification through various groups such as the American Council for Accredited Certification.

5. Green Building Engineer

There is an increased demand for Green Building Engineers to develop sustainable buildings and leave less of an environmental footprint. Green Building Engineers assist companies in creating structures while minimizing harm to the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Green Building Engineers are responsible for creating resource-efficient models that can help protect people from nature’s extremes while also shielding the environment from the impact of those very projects.

Green Building Engineers focus on the following goals when designing:
• Toxics reduction
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency
• Renewable energy
• Indoor air quality
• Sustainable development
• Smart growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, Green Building Engineers’ median annual wage varies from $76,000 and $84,000, depending on the specialty.

In Conclusion

As awareness of the human impact on the environment grows, there is increased demand for professionals who can help design and execute alternative methods in building, waste processing, water transport, and other engineering facets to minimize unintended side effects.

If you are looking for career opportunities in the Environmental Industry related to water or industrial waste management, get in touch with Clean Water Environmental here to see our open jobs!