Environmental engineers are the invisible heroes who are helping make the modern world we see today. They are the brainpower behind safe food and water, breathable air, disease-free environments, and clean energy that powers pretty much everything we do.
With all sustainability goals that organizations have set for the future, the jobs for environmental engineers are on a steady rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says 3% from 2019 to 2029.
If you’re going after an environmental engineering degree, take no chances and start looking for attractive engineering internship jobs even today.
Best 17 Environmental Engineering Internships
Freshman Environmental Intern
You’ll help the company’s environmental team, conduct avian, fisheries, and aquatic studies at various sites. You’ll learn how to enter collected data into spreadsheets, conduct statistical analyses, and draft reports.
You need to have a minimum of 2.5 GPA in a BS degree program in Natural Sciences, Biology, or Environmental Engineering.
Environmental Assessment Internship
Use the summer months to work with an experienced team of environmental scientists and engineers, assisting them with environmental permitting, environmental impact assessment, wetland delineations, sampling programs, etc.
You need to be an undergraduate student in Environmental Science, Wetlands Science, Wildlife Biology, or Geology with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Community Planning Intern
If you believe that culture drives results and if you value strong relationships, collaboration, and forward-thinking ideas, think about interning in community planning.
You’ll learn how to collect and analyze data, review land use applications, prepare staff reports, and help with on-site community engagement.
Water Quality Engineering Internship
If you’re currently enrolled in Aquatic Biology, Environmental Science, Water Resources, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, or related field, this engineering internship might be what you’re looking for.
You’ll assist in the collection and preservation of stream water samples and maintenance of field instruments.
BS or MS Environmental Engineering Intern
Students will gain professional experience working closely with senior engineers to research environmental information to support analyses and design. You will also assist in developing documents and presentations to publish study information.
To apply, you need to be enrolled and taking courses toward a Bachelor’s or MS degree in Environmental Engineering.
Environmental Planning Intern
Interns will help the teams in environmental review and regulatory compliance for a wide variety of projects, including water, energy, transportation, infrastructure, and national resources. This includes urban, infill, and mixed-use development projects.
An ideal candidate is currently in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Environmental Science, or related field.
Environmental Project Analyst Intern
You’ll visit project sites, conduct trash assessment and mapping, and help the team collect data related to pollution prevention.
To apply, you need to be a student of Environmental Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, or any closely related science. One year of engineering experience performing laboratory analyses, or coordinating environmental compliance projects [1] is a bonus.
Geotechnical Engineering Intern
If you’re a student of Civil or Geotechnical Engineering, use the opportunity to learn first-hand all about site feasibility studies, which often includes fieldwork, technical report preparation, and calculations. You’ll help compile pre-construction conditions documentation, design plans, and specifications.
If you plan to go to graduate school, first get work experience in an academic or industrial lab. This will help you shift from an undergraduate to a graduate mindset where it is more about what you deliver and less about what you can regurgitate on a test.
— Berkley Walker, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, Department of Plant Biology
Safety Health and Environment Intern
An internship in this field will help you build an essential set of skills that is different from those you attained in your academic studies.
As an intern, you’ll be given duties that sum up to a well-rounded professional experience within your field of study, which can be Safety, Environment, or Chemical Engineering.
Risk Control Safety Intern – Construction
Under direct supervision, you’ll prepare, conduct, and complete virtual risk evaluations, of client locations, as well as identify uncontrolled hazards.
You’ll have the best chances for a full-time internship with a degree program like Environmental Health and Safety, Occupational Health, Allied Health, Fire Protection Engineering.
Dredging Internship
Responsible dredging is essential both for waterways and the environment. You’ll learn ins and outs of this process by providing technical engineering documentation, coordinating inspections, and ensuring that dredging work complies with plans and specs.
Apart from attention to detail and problem solving, you need to be an undergrad in Engineering or Construction Management.
Environmental Global Compliance Engineering Intern
These engineering internship jobs are ideal for students of Environmental, Chemical, or Materials Engineering who have completed at least two years of college.
Full-time interns will identify product testing requirements, perform, compliance environmental testing, and write and maintain test reports and files.
Environmental Engineering Intern – Waste Management
As an intern, your job will be to conduct engineering reviews of solid waste permits, collect data to populate the online electronic database, and provide additional information on website pages.
A great opportunity for students of Engineering to gain knowledge of solid waste management, and facility permitting processes.
Environmental Engineering Intern – Water Management
These engineering internship jobs offer students an opportunity to work on real assignments across different disciplines, which are directly related to their coursework.
Interns will assist in creating the concept-level design of treatment works and make computations for stormwater and watershed planning. You need to be pursuing a BS in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
Environmental Geologist Intern
You’ll gain experience working with a supportive group of professionals in planning and executing field activities like soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and remediation system maintenance.
If you’re in pursuit of a BS in Geology and Environmental Engineering, you’re good to go, but be prepared to do a lot of fieldwork.
Environmental & Sustainability Intern
Sustainability engineering internship jobs give you an opportunity to help develop a Zero Waste Certification for sites like refuse business manufacturing facilities.
You’ll assist with developing and implementing ISO 14001 type documentation, and prepare LED lighting appropriation request documentation to map costs and scope.
Plant Engineering Intern
You’ll work closely with the Plant Manager to maximize the efficiency of plant operations and runtime. Your job will be to identify process needs to maintain production levels and help develop predictive and preventive programs.
Must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Agricultural Engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Environmental engineers make an average of $53,144 starting out. An experienced environmental engineer is expected to make about $87,942 per year.
Yes, environmental engineers are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for environmental engineers will grow at 3% between 2019 and 2029. In that period about 1,700 jobs should open up.
Yes, environmental engineering is a good career. Every engineering career is good but the environment has an edge over others because the environment is going to get more show time in years to come.
Engineering in the oil and gas sector has the highest salary. According to PayScale, an early-career petroleum engineer scores $94,500 a year, while a mid-career engineer earns $176,900 on average.
Environmental engineers make the most money in Texas ($108,530), Idaho ($106,360), Washington ($104,740), California ($104,260), and Maryland ($104,180).
Environmental engineers are hired by companies in water resources, renewable energy, land management, industrial hygiene niche, and many others. Among the best employers are AECOM, CH2M, HDR, Inc., and Jacobs Engineering Group.
No, it’s not hard to find a job as an environmental engineer. State and local governments are increasingly concerned with environmental issues that can only create more environmental engineer jobs. The same goes for private companies.
Final Thoughts
Environmental engineers work in a variety of settings and environments which depends on the task they do.
One thing is certain — apart from a college degree, employers also value practical experience — which you can get through an engineering internship.
Don’t wait for the ink on your diploma to dry.
Fire up our Green Jobs Board today and start looking for environmental engineering intern jobs to pack some on-site experience for the real deal.
References
- https://www.oecd.org/env/outreach/34499651.pdf
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/c/Tighe-&-Bond/Job/2021-Summer-Intern-Water-Environmental-Engineering/-in-Middletown,CT?jid=e3dd23a735fc0699
