Also called: Landfill Engineer, Waste Management Engineer
Designs landfills, recycling and composting facilities so trash doesn't pollute land, air or water.
You design the next 'cell' of a landfill, a giant lined pit with pipes that collect leaking water and methane gas. The gas gets piped to engines that make electricity for 5,000 homes.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in environmental or civil engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Drones and sensors survey landfills and gas systems; design, permits and site problem-solving stay human.
Classes: Environmental science, Earth science, Chemistry, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2081.
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