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Environmental Scientists & Specialists, Including Health

Also called: Environmental Scientist, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Specialist

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Army.

What they do:
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
On the job, you would:
  • Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
  • Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
  • Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • chemistry
Safety and Government
  • law and government
  • public safety and security
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems
  • reading work related information
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal
  • read and understand what is written
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems
Math
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
Visual Understanding
  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Independence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • ADMS pollution modeling software
  • Lakes Environmental EcoRisk View
Data base user interface and query software
  • EarthSoft EQuIS Geology
  • Smart Data Solutions RS Solutions
Map creation software
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Geographic information system GIS software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$62,920
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about environmental scientists and specialists, including health.