Environmental Engineer Job Description

If you want to have a great career while helping the environment, you might be interested in learning more about the job description of an environmental engineer.

In general, the job description of an engineer is to use math and science to find solutions to practical problems that affect our everyday lives. In the case of an environmental engineer, this means developing solutions to environmental problems, including those regarding pollution and waste disposal, air and water supply, and public health. Their job description can include things like figuring out how to treat and contain environmental hazards, as well as figuring out how to prevent these hazards from occurring, studying the effects of pollution and researching ways to minimize these negative effects, designing water supply and treatment systems to make sure the water we use and drink is safe, coming up with ways to protect endangered wildlife, and researching how proposed construction projects may affect the environment. 

In addition to solving environmental problems, the job description of an environmental engineer includes doing research to come up with ways to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place.

Job opportunities for environmental engineers are expected to increase 31 percent over the next decade. As the government creates new environmental regulations, more companies will hire environmental engineers to make sure that they are complying with these regulations and, if they are not in compliance, come up with solutions to help them do so.

A bachelor's degree is usually required for a degree in environmental engineering. The average annual wage for this position in the United States was $50,610 as of 2008.