Hot job: environmental science technician

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April 26, 2011

Hot job: environmental science technician

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Jonathan Berg installs a rain gauge on a green-roof project. (Bryan Berkompas)

The job: Environmental science technicians perform lab and field tests to monitor environmental resources and determine the contaminants and sources of pollution.

A Seattleite at work: Aquatic scientist Jonathan Berg says he likes working in an innovative field and enjoys the combination of the cerebral and physical in his job monitoring stormwater compliance with TEC Inc.

“We frequently use our hands, building water-quality monitoring stations or installing flow meters, weather stations and other environmental-monitoring equipment,” Berg says.

Outlook: Employment of environmental science technicians is expected to increase 29 percent over the 2008-18 decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Pay: The 380 technicians in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area earned a median wage of $39,470 in 2009.

Training: An associate degree or certificate in applied science or science-related technology is required.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, NWjobs staff

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