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Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

Environmental Engineers

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

Also called: Air Pollution Control Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Consultant, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Engineer

Median pay in Greater Boston
$109,620
$52.70/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,460
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+0.9%
100 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$77,150$85,450$109,620$132,970$162,220

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
  • Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
  • Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
  • Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
  • Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
  • Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure82 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 91
  • Language-model AIOE 76
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 80

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is higher, and some observed AI use is already happening. AI tools can help with data analysis, impact write-ups, design drafts, and progress reports. They do not replace site judgment, teamwork with other specialists, or advising clients and agencies on cleanups, so the job is likely to change more than disappear.

Likely to change

  • Drafting environmental impact assessments
  • Analyzing data and writing progress reports

Still relies on people

  • Advising agencies on cleaning up sites
  • Working with scientists, planners, and lawyers

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Project Management Specialists

    Working with stakeholders, tracking project goals, and reporting progress carry over directly, and this role offers higher Boston median pay with faster growth.

    Pay difference
    +$5,370 median
    AI exposure
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    Bachelor's degree

  • Construction Managers

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    Pay difference
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  • Architectural and Engineering Managers

    Coordinating technical teams and reviewing design changes build on engineering experience, with a much higher Boston median pay, though projected growth is low.

    Pay difference
    +$95,510 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

4 programs near Boston (plus 3 graduate)

Related occupations

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