Environmental Scientist
M-04M Other Inspection and code jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 19-2041.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $92,000
- work over
40 h a week - 11%
- load index
from O*NET data - 1.6/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +15.4%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: only 3 filing(s) with this job title; at least 5 are needed. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
All pay records and context (3)
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $70,000 · Level II $72,155 · Level III $88,634 · Level IV $128,970 (15 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $96,800 · Level II $87,600 · Level IV $150,176 (3 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Natural Resources Specialist I $40,918 to $61,130 · Natural Resources Specialist II $45,521 to $71,055 · Natural Resources Specialist III $51,158 to $81,351 · Natural Resources Specialist IV $57,614 to $93,138 · Natural Resources Specialist V $65,104 to $106,634 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: all Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000019204113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 5,630 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000019204101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000019204113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 5,630 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000019204101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +15.4% jobs · about 440 openings a year (4,030 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +4.4% jobs · about 8,500 openings a year (90,300 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2023, n = 30 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2023, n = 30 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 96% · irregular 4% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 1.6 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.49, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.67, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.49, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.67, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Walking or running2.1
- Standing1.95
- Bending or twisting1.39
- Kneeling or crawling1.34
- Climbing ladders1.1
- Keeping balance1.07
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather2.52
- Hazardous conditions2.19
- Very hot or cold1.72
- Hazardous equipment1.48
- Protective gear1.33
- Cramped space1.27
- High places1.16
Getting in
- License
- No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
- Degree
- 78% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
- Experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years of related experience is the most common answer (29% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- M Environmental Inspector O*NET lists Environmental Compliance Inspectors as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.92.
- I Environmental Technician O*NET lists Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.92.
- I Environmental Engineer O*NET lists Environmental Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80. License: depends on the work.
- I Environmental Engineering Technician O*NET lists Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000019204113, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 19-2041.00 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
