USA Career Guide : Environmental Engineers

Education and Training Requirements of Environmental Engineer

To work as Environmental engineer in USA one needs at least bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering accredited by ABET. Good work avenues open for those who have a Environmental engineering qualification along with Professional Engineer license and work experience. Environmental Engineering is offered as 4 year college course in USA to award a bachelor’s degree. Those who have 4 years in Environmental engineering can also apply for graduate program in Environmental engineering leading to award of masters and research degrees. Candidates interested in joining college course in environmental engineering should take high school courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.

Related Instructional Programs/Degrees for Environmental Engineers in USA

• MS – Master of Science
• BS – Bachelor of Science
• BSEnvE – Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
• ME – Master of Engineering
• BSE – Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• BSCE - Environmental Engineering Option in Civil Engineering

Industrial Overview

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics ‘Environmental engineers held about 51,400 jobs in 2010. Nearly one out of three environmental engineers worked in federal, state, or local governments in 2010. A percentage figure is illustrated below:

• Architectural, engineering, and related services - 28%
• Management, scientific, and technical consulting services – 19%
• State government, excluding education and hospitals – 15%
• Federal government, excluding postal service – 8%
• Local government, excluding education and hospitals – 8%

Job Prospects of Environmental Engineer

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics employment of environmental engineers is projected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Both the state government and local government are highly concerned about increasing water efficiencies. The federal government requires cleaning up contaminated sites. Waste water treatment is also a big concern. Global warming and air pollution add to more worries of government, industries and other organizations .Considering all these requirements it can be expected that the need for environmental engineers in USA shall exist on continuous basis.

Pay of a Environmental Engineer in the US

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage of environmental engineers was $78,740 in May 2010. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of environmental engineers in May 2010 were the following:

• Federal government, excluding postal service - $100,270
• Architectural, engineering, and related services - $78,450
• Local government, excluding education and hospitals - $75,280
• Management, scientific, and technical consulting services - $74,940
• State government, excluding education and hospitals - $69,050