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Occupation · SOC 19-4042

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

There are 34,670 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $55,090 a year. The most jobs are in Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA.

ScienceTypical education: Associate's degree
34,670
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$55,090
Median pay a year
Middle half: $45,820–$69,910
5,300
Annual openings
10-year change: +6.9%
10
LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 150 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $62,850 · LCA filings 01,460$62,8500
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $62,650 · LCA filings 01,440$62,6500
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $49,170 · LCA filings 1930$49,1701
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $53,780 · LCA filings 0710$53,7800
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $60,380 · LCA filings 2690$60,3802
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $80,840 · LCA filings 0690$80,8400
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $49,930 · LCA filings 0650$49,9300
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $62,280 · LCA filings 0650$62,2800
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $48,050 · LCA filings 0630$48,0500
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $57,150 · LCA filings 0610$57,1500

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Luis Obispo–Paso Robles, CAEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$90,720400
Duluth, MN–WIEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$89,040500
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 690 · LCA filings 0$80,8406900
Augusta–Richmond County, GA–SCEmployment 90 · LCA filings 0$77,860900
Fresno, CAEmployment 400 · LCA filings 0$77,8404000

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INEmployers with LCA filings 2 · Employment 69022690
Beaumont–Port Arthur, TXEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 802180
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 93011930
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WAEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 32011320
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 25011250

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $56,035 · Level III $66,643 · Level IV $77,251$45,427$56,035$66,643$77,251
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $57,054 · Level III $69,202 · Level IV $81,349$44,907$57,054$69,202$81,349
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $49,088 · Level III $56,680 · Level IV $64,272$41,496$49,088$56,680$64,272
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $51,480 · Level III $58,427 · Level IV $65,395$44,512$51,480$58,427$65,395
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $55,266 · Level III $66,456 · Level IV $77,667$44,054$55,266$66,456$77,667
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $70,637 · Level III $86,840 · Level IV $103,043$54,434$70,637$86,840$103,043
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $48,818 · Level III $55,286 · Level IV $61,776$42,328$48,818$55,286$61,776
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $54,808 · Level III $65,229 · Level IV $75,650$44,387$54,808$65,229$75,650
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $47,715 · Level III $53,456 · Level IV $59,218$41,954$47,715$53,456$59,218
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $51,646 · Level III $59,530 · Level IV $67,434$43,742$51,646$59,530$67,434
Beaumont–Port Arthur, TXLevel II $48,006 · Level III $54,642 · Level IV $61,256$41,392$48,006$54,642$61,256
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WALevel II $52,187 · Level III $62,774 · Level IV $73,382$41,579$52,187$62,774$73,382
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDLevel II $53,019 · Level III $64,397 · Level IV $75,754$41,662$53,019$64,397$75,754

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchCIP 03.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months1,233STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Environmental Control Technologies/TechniciansCIP 15.05Varies by program112Varies by program
Environmental GeosciencesCIP 30.41STEM OPT · up to 36 months5STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in every metro area

All 150 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Related occupations · Science

Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherMedical Scientists, except EpidemiologistsBiological TechniciansChemical TechniciansEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthChemistsSocial Science Research Assistants

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology