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Environmental Compliance Inspector

Overview and Key Facts

woman inspecting tree
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$78,420
Job Growth
Job Growth
3.00%
(US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
430,300

What Do They Do?

An environmental compliance inspector could...

 
garbage in water
Investigate complaints of illegal pollution from an individual or a business.
person checking water treatment facility
Inspect water treatment facilities to make sure they are in compliance with standards.
testify
Provide expert testimony in court about environmental violations.
landfill
Make sure a landfill is processing trash in compliance with local environmental regulations.
 
garbage in water person checking water treatment facility testify landfill

Overview Listen to this section

Our environment on planet Earth is made up of the air, water, and land. Environmental compliance inspectors work to protect and preserve our environment and the public by making sure communities, individuals, businesses, and state and local governments are in compliance with pollution laws and regulations.
In this video you will see how environmental scientists and specialists, like compliance inspectors, work to identify, measure, and control the pollutants that damage the environment and public health.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVT4IFa_od4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Environmental Compliance Inspector?


  1. Reading Comprehension: ?
  2. Critical Thinking: ?
  3. Writing: ?
  4. Active Listening: ?
  5. Speaking: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Environmental Compliance Inspector might do:
  • Determine the nature of code violations and actions to be taken, and issue written notices of violation, participating in enforcement hearings, as necessary.
  • Prepare, organize, and maintain inspection records.
  • Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
  • Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
  • Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
  • Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
  • Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
  • Learn and observe proper safety precautions, rules, regulations, and practices so that unsafe conditions can be recognized and proper safety protocols implemented.
  • Monitor follow-up actions in cases where violations were found, and review compliance monitoring reports.
  • Examine permits, licenses, applications, and records to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
  • Observe and record field conditions, gathering, interpreting, and reporting data such as flow meter readings and chemical levels.
  • Prepare written, oral, tabular, and graphic reports summarizing requirements and regulations, including enforcement and chain of custody documentation.
  • Determine sampling locations and methods, and collect water or wastewater samples for analysis, preserving samples with appropriate containers and preservation methods.
  • Research and keep informed of pertinent information and developments in areas such as EPA laws and regulations.
  • Participate in the development of spill prevention programs and hazardous waste rules and regulations, and recommend corrective actions for hazardous waste problems.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Environmental Compliance Inspector Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Environmental Compliance Inspector jobs (3.00%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Environmental Compliance Inspector

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

The minimum requirement for this occupation is a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental sciences, environmental law, or a related subject. A post-graduate degree is recommended for advancement into senior positions. Some positions might require registration with a professional association.

It is beneficial to have working knowledge of environmental management systems (such as ISO 14001), occupational health and safety systems, waste/wastewater legislation, statistics, and accounting procedures.

Companies That Hire Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Nature of the Work

Environmental compliance specialists inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with federal, state, and local regulations and ordinances.

A junior-level environmental compliance specialist is responsible for monitoring facility operations and preparing reports. The responsibility of an intermediate-level environmental compliance specialist advances from monitoring facility operations to analyzing reports in order to identify cases of non-compliance and the appropriate enforcement. Other responsibilities include managing overall reporting, and conducting internal audits. A senior-level position requires establishing working relationships with regulatory authorities, and an integrated practice and knowledge of environmental regulations, reporting requirements, standards, and codes.

Work Environment

Work involves a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Indoor work is performed in an office setting. Outdoor work includes field surveys and site visits to various institutional, commercial, and industrial settings. Travel may be required for this occupation.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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