Air Quality Engineers

With experience and education, the engineer might develop a specialization in air quality. Research grants are sometimes available to experienced engineers who wish to concentrate on specific problems or areas of study. Management is another avenue of advancement. The demand for technically oriented middle management in the private sector makes engineers with good interpersonal skills very valuable.

In many ways, advancement will be dictated by the increasing value of air quality engineers to business and industry in general. The successful development of air pollution control equipment or systems—perhaps even cutting costs as they reduce pollution—will make air quality engineers important players in companies' economic strategies. As regulations tighten and increasing emphasis is put on minimizing environmental impact, air quality engineers will be in the spotlight as regulators and innovators. Advancement may come in monetary incentives, bonuses, or management positions over other parts of the organization or company.