Also called: Water Quality Technician
Collects water and sediment samples to monitor coastal pollution.
Technicians run boats out to sampling sites, measure water quality, and process samples for labs.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate or bachelor's in environmental science.
Ways in: 2-year college, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Environmental Technology, Environmental Science.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Automated sensors and buoys reduce some manual sampling; boat runs and lab sample work still need techs.
Classes: Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4042.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.