Also called: Emerging Contaminants Engineer, Forever Chemicals Specialist
Designs systems that remove 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) from drinking water and polluted soil.
New federal limits mean a town's wells are over the PFAS limit. You test which filter material grabs the chemicals best in a pilot rig at the well house, then design a full treatment building and plan what to do with the used filters.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's in environmental engineering is common; PE license.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering.
Growing much faster than average. Booming because of new EPA drinking-water rules.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps predict how treatment media perform; pilot testing, plant design and meeting new PFAS rules keep demand strong.
Classes: AP Chemistry, Environmental science, Biology, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2081.
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