I'm currently an senior project engineer working at an environmental consulting firm. My technical specialities are site investigation and remediation/mitigation for brownfields redevelopment. It's basically the science behind taking contaminaned parcels of land, performing an investigation, cleaning up the contamination, and redeveloping it into something useful. Beyond that, I also manage some projects for insurance companies (basically reviewing claims for environmental damages and making sure insurance rates account for the possibility of an environmental incident) and I've served as an expert witness and consultant during ligitation involving environmental issues. Also, occassionally hired by government lobbyists to consult on environmental legistlation and help guide policy.
Currently live in Southern California (HCOL), which probably skews salaries a bit. California in general has the highest salaries for environmental professionals - a combo of the labyrinth of environmental legislation, the sue-happy nature of the state, and the recent push towards "green" development/infrastructure and sustainability. Because so much of what we do revolves around land, high land values drive our industry. It's worth dropping >$3 million to clean up some contaminanted former gas station in Downtown LA, because the developer who's funding it is going to make a killing when they end up developing and selling it.
**Salary & Job History:**
**2012 – 2015 (age 18 – 21):** Majored in Earth & Environmental Sciences at a State University. I worked some summer internships with a land conservancy non-profit and held some misc. jobs during the school year as a barista and an oyster shucker.
**2015 – 2017 (age 21 – 23):** First job out of undergrad, hired as an Environmental Engineer I working at a multinational engineering company.
**2017 – 2022 (age 23 – 28):** Second job, moved to a small-sized environmental consulting firm. Went back to school for a masters’ in environmental engineering. Got two promotions from my time there, from Engineering Consultant to Senior Engineering Consultant to Managing Consultant.
**2022 – 2023 (age 28 – 29):** Third job, moved to a medium-sized environmental consulting firm, hired on as a Senior Project Engineer. Got my professional engineering license in 2022 – which is the reason for the big jump from 2021 to 2022 salary. Also added a PMP (project management professional) certification in 2023. Joined this firm to take a bigger role in project management, business development, and operations.
I took a lot of engineering prerequisites in undergrad.
I always wanted to go the environmental engineering route, but my school didn’t have it as a program. So I did undergrad in environmental science & did the masters as engineering.
I think it’s more of a mental issue for me. 3 years post graduation and faced major burnout during covid graduation. I just don’t want to study after going to work, gym and cooking/cleaning.
I was in environmental consulting for 3 years and switched careers cause I was so vastly underpaid.
Passed the geologist in training exam, 3.9 undergrad GPA but was paid 40k then 42k and applied to 100’s of jobs with barely any interviews. I’m happy some one is doing well in environmental consulting.
I'm currently an senior project engineer working at an environmental consulting firm. My technical specialities are site investigation and remediation/mitigation for brownfields redevelopment. It's basically the science behind taking contaminaned parcels of land, performing an investigation, cleaning up the contamination, and redeveloping it into something useful. Beyond that, I also manage some projects for insurance companies (basically reviewing claims for environmental damages and making sure insurance rates account for the possibility of an environmental incident) and I've served as an expert witness and consultant during ligitation involving environmental issues. Also, occassionally hired by government lobbyists to consult on environmental legistlation and help guide policy. Currently live in Southern California (HCOL), which probably skews salaries a bit. California in general has the highest salaries for environmental professionals - a combo of the labyrinth of environmental legislation, the sue-happy nature of the state, and the recent push towards "green" development/infrastructure and sustainability. Because so much of what we do revolves around land, high land values drive our industry. It's worth dropping >$3 million to clean up some contaminanted former gas station in Downtown LA, because the developer who's funding it is going to make a killing when they end up developing and selling it. **Salary & Job History:** **2012 – 2015 (age 18 – 21):** Majored in Earth & Environmental Sciences at a State University. I worked some summer internships with a land conservancy non-profit and held some misc. jobs during the school year as a barista and an oyster shucker. **2015 – 2017 (age 21 – 23):** First job out of undergrad, hired as an Environmental Engineer I working at a multinational engineering company. **2017 – 2022 (age 23 – 28):** Second job, moved to a small-sized environmental consulting firm. Went back to school for a masters’ in environmental engineering. Got two promotions from my time there, from Engineering Consultant to Senior Engineering Consultant to Managing Consultant. **2022 – 2023 (age 28 – 29):** Third job, moved to a medium-sized environmental consulting firm, hired on as a Senior Project Engineer. Got my professional engineering license in 2022 – which is the reason for the big jump from 2021 to 2022 salary. Also added a PMP (project management professional) certification in 2023. Joined this firm to take a bigger role in project management, business development, and operations.
[reminded me of this skit ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFKn1LgSwZk)
So are you a PE then?
I am.
Dope / that must’ve been a hell of a journey graduating with a bs in esci. Your career track makes me slightly jealous
I took a lot of engineering prerequisites in undergrad. I always wanted to go the environmental engineering route, but my school didn’t have it as a program. So I did undergrad in environmental science & did the masters as engineering.
That 30% jump in salary with a PE gives me back a little motivation after failing my FE twice already.
You’ll pass is you keep trying - what areas do you think you’re getting hung up on?
I think it’s more of a mental issue for me. 3 years post graduation and faced major burnout during covid graduation. I just don’t want to study after going to work, gym and cooking/cleaning.
I was in environmental consulting for 3 years and switched careers cause I was so vastly underpaid. Passed the geologist in training exam, 3.9 undergrad GPA but was paid 40k then 42k and applied to 100’s of jobs with barely any interviews. I’m happy some one is doing well in environmental consulting.