Water/Wastewater Engineers

Environmental engineers will have 3 percent employment growth, about as fast as the average for all occupations, through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Job opportunities for water/wastewater engineers will continue to be good due to the increased focus on using water efficiently. There will be employment opportunities for environmental engineers in professional, scientific, and technical services. Utility companies and water treatment plants will also need water/wastewater engineers to help them comply with environmental regulations. Another reason for job growth in this field is the government's requirements for clean-ups at contaminated sites. Engineers are also needed to help design and monitor systems that use and dispose of massive volumes of water from shale gas drilling. Water/wastewater engineers with a master's degree in environmental engineering, professional engineering licensure, and prior work experience will have the best job prospects.

The growth in demand for wastewater treatment will be related to the overall growth of the nation's population and economy. New treatment plants will be built, and existing ones will be upgraded, requiring additional trained personnel to manage their operations. Employment demand will also grow because of the need to ensure compliance with increased safety and environmental regulations. Other openings will arise when experienced workers retire or transfer to new occupations.

Workers in wastewater treatment plants are rarely laid off, even during a recession, because wastewater treatment is essential to public health and welfare. In the future more wastewater professionals will probably be employed by private companies that contract to manage treatment plants for local governments.