Environmental Health Specialist
Medical Assistant & Health Sciences
A program that focuses on the application of environmental sciences, public health, the biomedical sciences, and environmental toxicology to the study of environmental factors affecting human health, safety, and related ecological issues, and prepares individuals to function as professional environmental health specialists.
What Environmental Health Specialists Do
A program that focuses on the application of environmental sciences, public health, the biomedical sciences, and environmental toxicology to the study of environmental factors affecting human health, safety, and related ecological issues, and prepares individuals to function as professional environmental health specialists.
Common Tasks
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- 1Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- 2Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
- 3Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
- 4Investigate accidents to identify causes or to determine how such accidents might be prevented in the future.
- 5Inspect or evaluate workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure compliance with safety standards and government regulations.
What You'll Learn
Types of Environmental Health Specialists
Work Environment
Locations
- • Local and state health departments
- • Environmental consulting firms
- • Industrial and manufacturing facilities
- • Government regulatory agencies
- • Universities and research labs
Schedule
Most roles follow a weekday schedule, but inspections, incident response, or production-driven sites can require early starts, travel, or occasional evenings.
Physical Demands
Work is often desk- and computer-heavy (data review, reporting, and communication) with periodic field visits for inspections and sampling. Fieldwork can involve walking worksites, climbing stairs or ladders, and wearing personal protective equipment.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 721,300 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand may rise as governments and employers tighten rules around air, water, food safety, and workplace exposures. Climate-driven events and emerging contaminants can increase the need for monitoring, risk assessment, and public communication.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Direct impact on community health and safety
- • Mix of office analysis and fieldwork
- • Strong alignment with regulations and compliance needs
- • Transferable skills across public health, environment, and safety
- • Opportunities in government, industry, and consulting
Cons
- • Paperwork-heavy documentation and reporting
- • Can involve exposure to unpleasant or hazardous environments (with PPE)
- • Regulatory deadlines and moderate time pressure
- • May require travel and unplanned site visits
- • Public-facing work can include conflict during enforcement
Common Questions About the Environmental Health Specialist Trade
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