Tracks pollutants in water, soil, and air, like 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), and how to clean them up.
You collect samples from a river, analyze them for tiny amounts of pollution, and help regulators or companies decide how to fix the problem.
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 chemistry or environmental science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Environmental Science.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Growth is for chemists and materials scientists overall.
Medium risk for 10 years. Automated analyzers and AI handle routine tests; field sampling and new pollutants like PFAS keep chemists busy.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2031.
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.