Environmental Compliance Specialist
Environmental & Natural Resources
A program that focuses on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, or humanistic approaches or a combination.
What Environmental Compliance Specialists Do
A program that focuses on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, or humanistic approaches or a combination.
Common Tasks
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- 1Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- 2Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 3Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- 4Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- 5Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
What You'll Learn
Types of Environmental Compliance Specialists
Work Environment
Locations
- • Environmental consulting firms
- • Government environmental agencies
- • Industrial and manufacturing facilities
- • Field sampling sites (water, soil, air)
- • Universities and research labs
Schedule
Most roles follow a regular weekday schedule, with occasional overtime or travel for fieldwork, inspections, or public meetings under moderate time pressure.
Physical Demands
Work is often desk-based with significant computer time, plus periodic fieldwork that involves walking, carrying equipment, and working outdoors. Physical demands are generally moderate, with limited heavy lifting but some repetitive motions and travel.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 517,300 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand may rise as governments and companies respond to climate risks, pollution, and stricter environmental regulations. More monitoring, reporting, and remediation work can increase hiring in consulting, industry, and public agencies.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Meaningful work protecting public health and the environment
- • Strong mix of office analysis and field investigation
- • Good median pay in many regions
- • Skills transfer across government, consulting, and industry
- • Opportunities to specialize (air, water, waste, EHS, policy)
Cons
- • Deadlines and regulatory pressure can be stressful
- • Fieldwork may involve bad weather, remote sites, or exposure risks
- • Project-based consulting work can be cyclical
- • Extensive documentation and report writing
- • May require travel and occasional irregular hours
Common Questions About the Environmental Compliance Specialist Trade
Ready to Get Started?
Not Sure This Trade is Right?
Take our free career quiz to discover trades that match your interests and skills.
Take the Career Quiz