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Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.

Also called: Air Quality Instrument Specialist, EHS Engineer (Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer), Engineer, Environmental Engineering Assistant, Environmental Engineering Technician (Environmental Engineering Tech), Environmental Field Technician (Environmental Field Tech)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$63,720
$30.64/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
200
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−1.8%
20 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Associate'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
$46,930$48,290$63,720$84,270$84,270

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

What you’d do

  • Prepare and package environmental samples for shipping or testing.
  • Assist in the cleanup of hazardous material spills.
  • Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
  • Receive, set up, test, or decontaminate equipment.
  • Inspect facilities to monitor compliance with regulations governing substances, such as asbestos, lead, or wastewater.
  • Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.

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.

Moderate exposure53 of 100

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

  • AIOE 47
  • Language-model AIOE 43
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 70

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and observed AI use is at a "some" level. AI tools may help with office tasks like analyzing results and checking compliance records. They do not handle field work like collecting samples, cleaning up spills, and decontaminating equipment. Federal projections say more automated environmental testing is expected to reduce this job's share of employment.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing test data and compliance records
  • Office reports and regulation paperwork

Still relies on people

  • Collecting samples and cleaning up hazardous spills
  • Walking facilities to inspect for hazards

What federal projections say

“Productivity change - share decreases as automation of environmental testing increases.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

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

Next steps from here

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Training near Boston

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

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

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