Environmental science and protection technicians are actually public health officials who monitor the environment in order to protect human health. They spend their days taking water, soil or air samples, and sending them back to the laboratory for pollutant testing. They also inspect public places and businesses for environmental hazards, and they’re involved in the setup and upkeep of pollution monitoring equipment.

These professionals should be detail-oriented because they’re tasked with performing an array of tests with accuracy and precision. They often work under the supervision of environmental scientists and environmental engineers, so they should also have good communication and interpersonal skills.

Environmental science and protection technicians are employed by consulting firms, state and local governments, and testing laboratories. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.8% employment growth for environmental science and protection technicians between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 2,000 jobs should open up.

Many environmental science and protection technicians get a two-year associate degree in environmental science, environmental health, public health or another related field. Some jobs, however, will require a bachelor’s degree. Whatever the degree, coursework will likely include chemistry, biology, geology and physics. Some programs will also include training in remote sensing and geographic information systems.