We surveyed 1,029 environmental engineers to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical environmental engineer. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as an environmental engineer?

Low

High

Working as an environmental engineer typically requires higher levels of intelligence when compared with the average career. This means that environmental engineers are required to actively learn new things related to their discipline and solve complex problems.

Can I learn to become an environmental engineer?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as an environmental engineer typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as an environmental engineer?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as an environmental engineer. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for environmental engineers.

Info

Do environmental engineers work full-time or part-time?

89% of environmental engineers work in full-time roles while 11% work part-time.

Is being an environmental engineer stressful?

Low

High

Environmental engineers tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as an environmental engineer?

Low

High

Some level of organization is generally required to be an environmental engineer.

How competitive is the workplace for environmental engineers?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for environmental engineers.

Does being an environmental engineer require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for environmental engineers.

Are environmental engineers allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Environmental engineers rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.

Do environmental engineers have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Environmental engineers tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.

Is being an environmental engineer physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as an environmental engineers is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.

Are environmental engineers exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, environmental engineers tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being an environmental engineer require attention to detail?

Low

High

Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as an environmental engineer.

Does being a good environmental engineer require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as an environmental engineer.