Environmental Compliance Inspectors
SOC code 13-1041 · O*NET-SOC 13-1041.01 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Environmental Compliance Inspectors pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$80,730
a year
Hourly
$38.81
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$88,400
$42.50 per hour
Middle 50%
$61,280 – $109,010
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$48,220 – $133,720
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
417,070
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Compliance Officers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $48,220
- $23.18/hr
- 25th percentile
- $61,280
- $29.46/hr
- Median percentile
- $80,730
- $38.81/hr
- 75th percentile
- $109,010
- $52.41/hr
- 90th percentile
- $133,720
- $64.29/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
418,000
jobs in 2024
430,300
projected for 2034
About 12,300 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does an environmental compliance inspector do?
Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Determine the nature of code violations and actions to be taken, and issue written notices of violation, participating in enforcement hearings, as necessary.
- Prepare, organize, and maintain inspection records.
- Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
- Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
- Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
- Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
- Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
- Inspect waste pretreatment, treatment, and disposal facilities and systems for conformance to federal, state, or local regulations.
How to become an environmental compliance inspector
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 75% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree75%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree15%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)10%
Common questions
How much does an environmental compliance inspector earn?
The national median is $80,730 a year. The full range runs from $48,220 at the 10th percentile to $133,720 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an environmental compliance inspector without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is environmental compliance inspector in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
- Monitoring3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.2/5
- Law and Government4.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Chemistry3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
- Public Safety and Security3.0/5
- Biology2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making.