Environmental science degree jobs

Are you interested in a career that examines how environmental systems and human activities interact? Find out how an environmental science degree prepares graduates with analytical skills to inform real-world environmental decisions.

Environmental science degree jobs exist within geology, ecology, meteorology, chemistry, biology, physics and engineering. This field examines interactions between environmental systems and human activities, using scientific evidence to support environmental planning, management and policy decisions.

Here’s how environmental science draws on different scientific areas:

• Geology: Environmental science uses geology to understand Earth’s materials, landforms, and surface processes that influence soils, water resources, natural hazards and long-term environmental change.
• Ecology: Environmental science applies ecological principles to examine how organisms interact with each other and with their environments, helping explain ecosystem dynamics, population patterns and biological responses to environmental conditions.
• Meteorology: Environmental science draws on meteorology to analyze atmospheric processes, such as weather and climate, that influence environmental systems at local, regional and global scales.
• Chemistry: Environmental science uses chemistry to investigate the composition and transformation of substances in air, water and soil, supporting analysis of nutrient cycles, pollutants and energy transfers.
• Biology: Environmental science incorporates biology to understand living systems and the processes that sustain life, particularly how organisms respond to physical and chemical environmental factors.
• Physics: Environmental science relies on physics to explain energy, matter and motion within environmental systems, including heat transfer, fluid movement and radiation processes.
• Engineering: Environmental science integrates engineering approaches to design and evaluate technologies and systems that support environmental management, infrastructure and resource use within human–environment systems.

Why are environmental science degree jobs so important today? Environmental science focuses on understanding Earth’s systems through scientific analysis. This scientific knowledge may be used to inform environmental law, regulation, economics and policy.

For example, environmental science studies how greenhouse gas emissions influence Earth’s climate system, including temperature patterns, sea levels and atmospheric conditions. Changes in climate, in turn, affect water systems by altering precipitation patterns, freshwater availability, and the timing and intensity of droughts and floods. These changes also influence energy systems, since energy production and reliability depend on water availability, temperature conditions and natural resources. By examining these linked systems together, environmental science helps explain how changes in one part of the Earth system can affect others over time. 

It’s helpful if environmental science graduates enter the field with a blend of technical, analytical and interpersonal skills, while staying adaptable to new technologies and the demand for interdisciplinary solutions. 

Environmental science uses systems thinking and interdisciplinary science to examine how environmental systems function, interact and change over time. This broad approach brings together multiple scientific perspectives to better understand complex environmental patterns and processes, including how human activities both influence and are influenced by these systems.

Systems thinking focuses on understanding how components within a system are interconnected and influence one another through ongoing interactions and feedback. Rather than following simple cause-and-effect relationships, systems thinking recognizes that environmental systems change in complex, nonlinear ways. In environmental science, this approach is used to examine how interactions among air, water, land, organisms and energy can reinforce, balance or alter system behavior.

Careers in environmental science require strong systems thinking skills to analyze how environmental, economic and social systems interact. This expertise allows professionals to examine complex environmental conditions and understand how changes across systems influence environmental outcomes. 

Environmental science requires a combination of field, laboratory and analytical skills that continue to evolve as scientific tools and methods change. Core competencies include studying environmental systems related to food production, water resources, biodiversity and material use, as well as evaluating how these systems function across landscapes and over time.

Environmental scientists increasingly work with environmental data collected through field measurements, laboratory analysis, remote sensing and monitoring technologies. This work involves data collection, organization and analysis using digital tools, and may include automated or computational methods as technologies advance. Familiarity with data analytics, geographic information systems, remote sensors and emerging computational approaches, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, is becoming increasingly valuable.

In addition to technical and data skills, environmental science relies on rigorous research methodologies to study complex systems. These may include quantitative and qualitative approaches such as case studies, process-based analysis, comparative methods and participatory research, depending on the scientific questions being investigated.

Careers in environmental science require critical thinking skills to draw reasonable conclusions from field studies, experiments and other relevant research methods. Keen attention to detail is also important for following protocols in data collection, analysis and sample testing.

Environmental science degree jobs involve working in teams with professionals from varied backgrounds (e.g., engineers, technicians and scientists) to achieve objectives. This calls for excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills.

Some environmental science roles require candidates to have strong verbal communication skills so they can clearly present findings to nonspecialists. Other roles may require writing skills for technical papers, articles and reports.

Those who work in environmental science degree jobs typically split their time between offices, labs and the field. However, hands-on fieldwork is often handled by technicians.

Field assignments may demand physical stamina and adaptability to outdoor conditions, from extreme weather to remote locations.

Travel is common for client consultations or presenting findings at conferences. While most work full time, fieldwork or project deadlines may require evenings, weekends or irregular hours.

The majority of people employed in this field work for a variety of agencies and organizations where they balance research, data analysis and client meetings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the work environments include:

• State government agencies (28%)
• Consulting firms (19%)
• Local government agencies (13%)
• Engineering services (10%)
• Federal agencies (6%)

Environmental science degree jobs also exist within organizations. For example, the Environmental Defense Fund hires candidates for administrative, specialist and management roles in environmental science. The National Audubon Society hires candidates in roles ranging from special assistant to biologist or director.

Additionally, the Natural Resources Defense Council seeks candidates for advocacy roles (e.g., forest advocacy and policy advocacy), as well as advisor, director and administrative positions in environmental science. Here are some job titles for which a degree in environmental science can prepare graduates.

Job overview: An environmental compliance inspector investigates sources of pollution to protect public health and the environment. These professionals help ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations, and they evaluate suspected violations, determine the nature of code violations, issue notices and may participate in enforcement hearings.

Educational requirements: This role typically requires an undergraduate degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, and relevant work experience. Inspectors must work well with teams, handle direct public interaction and exercise critical thinking to solve problems and enforce standards accurately.

What they do: Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of natural sciences to protect both the environment and human health from pollutants and hazards. They conduct research and investigations to determine methods for collecting and analyzing environmental samples from sources such as air, water and food.

• Educational requirements: Requirements to enter this field include a relevant bachelor’s degree and previous experience from volunteer opportunities and internships.
• These environmental science degree jobs vary, depending on specialization. Common roles in this field include:
• Environmental analyst: This role involves analyzing the effects that human activity has on ecosystems and natural resources. These professionals examine pollution, habitat destruction and climate change, and they provide support to policymakers, engineers and other science professionals in devising solutions to these issues.
• Environmental health and safety (EHS) specialist: EHS specialists help shape workplace health and safety management policies, either by providing advice or partaking in strategy development. Their goal is to protect personnel, facilities and the overall environment from harm.
• Environmental programs specialist: This type of role entails devising and implementing environmental protection and sustainability policies and programs. That might include conducting environmental evaluations, checking environmental law compliance, implementing guidelines and regulations, and informing communities about environmental challenges.
• Environmental protection specialist: This role involves collaborating with natural resource managers, scientists and engineers to help environmental agencies and organizations address pollution and environmental damage. 

As of May 2024, environmental scientists and specialists earned between $50,130 and $134,830, with a median wage of $80,060, according to BLS.

BLS projects employment of environmental scientists and specialists to grow by 4%, or an average of 8,500 job openings each year, from 2024 to 2034.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2024-2034 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Curious to learn skills that can be used in environmental science degree jobs? University of Phoenix offers a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.

Contact UOPX to request more information about this online degree program.