We surveyed 934 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.
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.