How to Become an Environmental Technician in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do environmental technicians earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), environmental technicians in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,410 (using the related "Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other" BLS category, since environmental technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.26 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for environmental technicians in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 750 workers in the related "Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois environmental science and protection technicians, including health earn a median annual wage of $59,930 ($28.81/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 980 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.8% above the national median of $55,090 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,930 ($28.81/hr)
25th percentile: $49,200 per year
75th percentile: $78,520 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $99,680 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $40,970 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 980
Versus national median: 8.8% above the U.S. median of $55,090
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.72 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Illinois employs about 750 environmental technicians earning a median $59,410 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 Illinois.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois employs approximately 750 workers in the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category (SOC 19-4099), with a median annual wage of $59,410 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $59,410 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 Illinois

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

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

What do environmental technicians earn in Illinois? 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 Illinois is $59,410, with entry-level wages around $31,200 and experienced workers earning $83,310 or more ¹.

How to Become an Environmental Technician in Illinois

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

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	1,240	$60,841	$65,000	$41,294	$92,108
St. Louis	160	$50,107	$56,527	$44,093	$73,979
Peoria	80	$62,435	$60,075	$39,440	$77,560
Champaign-Urbana	70	$51,570	$58,960	$50,960	$70,840
Paducah	50	$41,130	$48,230	$41,130	$75,060
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	40	$53,290	$58,250	$31,770	$77,150

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 Illinois? Illinois employs approximately 750 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 Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do environmental technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for environmental technicians in Illinois is $59,410 (based on the related “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” category), which is $720 below the national median of $60,130 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)