How to Become an Environmental Technician in Alaska (2026)

Alaska employs about 170 environmental technicians earning a median $70,700 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other”). Most environmental technicians train through an approved program before entering the field in Alaska.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alaska employs approximately 170 workers in the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category (SOC 19-4099), with a median annual wage of $70,700 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10,600 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Environmental Technician in Alaska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track environmental technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other (SOC 19-4099). Actual environmental technician earnings may vary.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school or community college
  • Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
  • Median wage (Alaska): $70,700 per year (based on related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an Environmental Technician in Alaska

How to become an Environmental Technician in Alaska? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for environmental technicians in Alaska.

How long does it take? environmental technician training length in Alaska varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do environmental technicians earn in Alaska? The BLS does not track environmental technician wages separately. Based on the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category, the median annual wage in Alaska is $70,700, with entry-level wages around $50,840 and experienced workers earning $100,530 or more 1.

How to Become an Environmental Technician in Alaska

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Alaska training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved environmental technician program in Alaska that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to environmental technicians in Alaska before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Environmental Technician Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), environmental science and protection technicians, including health wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Anchorage270$57,266$65,271$40,722$86,799
Fairbanks-College70$71,936$74,129$44,429$99,316

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for environmental technicians in Alaska? Alaska employs approximately 170 workers in the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alaska.

How much do environmental technicians earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for environmental technicians in Alaska is $70,700 (based on the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category), which is $10,570 above the national median of $60,130 according to BLS data 1.

In Alaska

Explore More Trades in Alaska

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)