What Do Environmental Engineers Do?
Clean water, clean air, clean soil: environmental engineers are the ultimate cleaners. Using state-of-the-art technology and a collaborative mindset, environmental engineers find solutions for a more sustainable future–one that works on a system level, and often addresses the pollutants of the past. Sound cool? Read on to learn more about this career path!
What is environmental engineering?
Environmental engineering is a discipline focused on finding solutions to minimize the impact of humans on the natural world. This includes treating past contamination, preventing future contamination, and recovering resources when possible.
Environmental engineering is needed in urban, suburban, and rural environments–basically anywhere people interact with the environment. You might find environmental engineers developing water treatment systems, reducing pollution from factories, restoring ecosystems, or helping cities prepare for extreme weather.
An environmental engineer knows a lot about some of our most basic resources: water, air and soil. They also learn about historic and emerging contaminants and the methods for cleaning them up. It’s a career path for students who want to solve real-world problems and make a positive impact on the environment.
Examples of real-life environmental engineering
Environmental engineers usually focus on three efforts:
Remediation: site assessment, planning, and implementing the cleanup of contaminants to restore environmental quality.
- Implement strategies to clean up contaminated sites and ensure safe disposal of hazardous materials.
- Design facilities for pollutant removal from drinking water, stormwater and wastewater.
- The Clean Water Technology Initiative at Oregon State empowers faculty, graduate and undergraduate students to explore new ways to ensure clean, sustainable water for future generations.
Mitigation: avoiding, minimizing, or compensating for adverse environmental impacts caused by human projects.
- Mitigate environmental impacts of infrastructure projects and new emerging contaminants.
- Mitigate climate change through emission reduction and contaminant capture technologies.
- Oregon State environmental engineering student Elise Cordle helps research the effects of organic pollutants and nanoplastics, using zebrafish as a human health model. Elise works with Stacey Harper, professor of environmental engineering.
Resource Recovery: reclaiming valuable materials, energy, and nutrients from waste streams to conserve and recycle the resources.
- Recover energy, water, nutrients, metals and other valuable products from waste streams.
- At Oregon State, assistant professor Xue Jin is developing technology to convert wastewater into a product that would simultaneously irrigate and fertilize crops.
Examples of environmental engineering jobs
Environmental engineering careers span a wide range of roles, from designing clean water systems to ensuring companies meet environmental regulations. Here’s what a few of those jobs could look like in practice:
Environmental Engineer
Typical day-to-day tasks:
- Design systems for waste treatment, recycling, or pollution control.
- Conduct environmental impact assessments for new construction or infrastructure projects.
- Visit project sites to monitor construction or investigate environmental concerns.
Example projects:
- Designing a stormwater system for a new housing development.
- Evaluating contamination risks at a construction site.
- Creating a plan to reduce industrial air emissions.
Water/Wastewater Engineer
Typical day-to-day tasks:
- Design and upgrade water treatment plants, pipelines, and distribution systems.
- Perform engineering calculations, modeling, and cost estimates for infrastructure projects.
- Conduct field inspections or construction observations at treatment facilities.
Example projects:
- Upgrading a city’s aging wastewater treatment system.
- Designing a rural drinking water distribution network.
- Optimizing treatment processes to remove contaminants like nitrogen or PFAS.
Remediation Specialist
Typical day-to-day tasks:
- Investigate and assess contaminated sites (soil, groundwater, industrial areas).
- Design and implement cleanup strategies for hazardous materials.
- Oversee installation and operation of remediation systems.
Example projects:
- Cleaning up a former industrial site for redevelopment.
- Managing oil spill or hazardous waste site response.
- Restoring contaminated groundwater at a manufacturing facility.
Environmental Consultant
Typical day-to-day tasks:
- Meet with clients to define project scope and environmental risks.
- Conduct site assessments and environmental studies.
- Support clients with permitting, approvals, and stakeholder communication.
Example projects:
- Helping a company obtain permits for a new facility
- Conducting environmental impact studies for infrastructure projects
- Advising on sustainability strategies or carbon reduction plans
How much do environmental engineers make?
Environmental engineering offers strong earning potential and demand for environmental engineers continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for environmental engineers was $104,170 as of May 2024 and employment is projected to increase 4% through 2034.