Jobs Similar to Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
Also called: Environmental Science Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to environmental science and protection technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Environmental Compliance Inspectors, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Environmental Scientists and Specialists.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians: $55,090 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 82% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 80% | $59,920+9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 79% | $82,220+49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Forensic Science TechniciansSame group | 79% | $72,060+31% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Conservation Scientists | 79% | $73,010+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 78% | $78,850+43% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 77% | $90,150+64% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 77% | $61,560+12% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 77% | $115,160+109% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Traffic Technicians | 77% | $59,090+7% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Forest and Conservation TechniciansSame group | 77% | $54,560−1% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Microbiologists | 76% | $87,990+60% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Hydrologists | 76% | $96,600+75% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Nuclear Monitoring TechniciansSame group | 75% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 15 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 75% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 16 | Food Scientists and Technologists | 75% | $88,720+61% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Agricultural Inspectors | 75% | $49,940−9% | High school |
| 18 | Range Managers | 75% | $73,010Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Validation Engineers | 75% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Precision Agriculture TechniciansSame group | 74% | $49,630Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
- 1Environmental Compliance Inspectors
82% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
80% similar · $59,920 (+9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
79% similar · $82,220 (+49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Forensic Science Technicians
79% similar · $72,060 (+31%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Conservation Scientists
79% similar · $73,010 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Soil and Plant Scientists
78% similar · $78,850 (+43%) · Graduate degree
- 7Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
77% similar · $90,150 (+64%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
77% similar · $61,560 (+12%) · Training or associate
- 9Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
77% similar · $115,160 (+109%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Traffic Technicians
77% similar · $59,090 (+7%) · Training or associate
- 11Forest and Conservation Technicians
77% similar · $54,560 (−1%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Microbiologists
76% similar · $87,990 (+60%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Hydrologists
76% similar · $96,600 (+75%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
75% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Police Identification and Records Officers
75% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 16Food Scientists and Technologists
75% similar · $88,720 (+61%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Agricultural Inspectors
75% similar · $49,940 (−9%) · High school
- 18Range Managers
75% similar · $73,010 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Validation Engineers
75% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Precision Agriculture Technicians
74% similar · $49,630 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than environmental science and protection technicians.
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors77% similar · $115,160 (+109%)
- Hydrologists76% similar · $96,600 (+75%)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists77% similar · $90,150 (+64%)
- Food Scientists and Technologists75% similar · $88,720 (+61%)
- Microbiologists76% similar · $87,990 (+60%)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health79% similar · $82,220 (+49%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Forensic Science Technicians79% similar · Training or associate
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians77% similar · Training or associate
- Traffic Technicians77% similar · Training or associate
- Forest and Conservation Technicians77% similar · Training or associate
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians75% similar · Training or associate
- Police Identification and Records Officers75% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for environmental science and protection technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former environmental science and protection technicians →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where environmental science and protection technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (92)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (90)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (82)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (82)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (77)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (76)
- Water Resource Specialists (76)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (75)
- Range Managers (75)
- Validation Engineers (75)
Questions about jobs like environmental science and protection technicians
What jobs are most similar to environmental science and protection technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Environmental Compliance Inspectors (82% similar), Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (80% similar), Environmental Scientists and Specialists (79% similar), Forensic Science Technicians (79% similar) and Conservation Scientists (79% similar).
Which jobs like environmental science and protection technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Health and Safety Engineers ($115,160, +109%; usually a bachelor's degree), Hydrologists ($96,600, +75%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists ($90,150, +64%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with environmental science and protection technicians ($55,090). Without more preparation than environmental science and protection technicians usually need: Health and Safety Engineers, Hydrologists and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.