Career Explorer Science
Grows with AI
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 47% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +6.9% by 2035, faster than average.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $55,090
- Job growth to 2035
- +6.9%
- Openings a year
- 5,300
- People doing it (2025)
- 36,400
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Present research or technical information
- Advise others on legal or regulatory matters
- Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Maintain operational records
- Analyze environmental or geospatial data
- Develop plans for managing or preserving natural resources
What the work looks like
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Biological techniciansGrows with AI, Index 65, +7.4%
- Food science techniciansGrows with AI, Index 52, +4.8%
- Agricultural techniciansGrows with AI, Index 66, +5.4%
- Massage therapistsHuman edge, growing, Index 98, +15.3%
Also known as: Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Sanitarian, Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician), Industrial Pretreatment Program Specialist (IPP Specialist), Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Public Health Sanitarian, Sanitarian Specialist.
Is this career on your child's list?
Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.