The Complete Guide to Becoming An Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician

I was about to sign up for a two-year associate program without really knowing what the job would look like. This book gave me the reality check I needed - the chapter on daily tasks alone clarified things for me. The salary numbers in Chapter 4 matched what I eventually found in actual job postings in my state, which gave me confidence to move forward. Planning to buy a second copy for my cousin who's also considering this.

What I appreciated most is that this isn't a cheerleader book. It tells you about the paperwork, the cold field days, and the fact that you'll spend a solid chunk of time labeling bottles. But it also explains why that work matters and how it connects to the bigger picture. The chapter on breaking in had practical tips I hadn't seen anywhere else - like how to leverage part-time lab experience. Solid purchase.

I'm a career-changer at age 34, and I needed to know if going back to school was worth it. This book didn't sugarcoat the entry-level pay, but it also gave me the realistic trajectory for mid and senior levels, which was what I needed. I liked that Chapter 3 gave me actual costs and timelines for different paths instead of just saying 'get a degree.' I felt way more equipped to make a decision after reading this.

The chapter on 'A Day in the Life' was worth the price alone. I've read so many descriptions that say 'you'll protect the environment!' but this one talks about calibration logs, chain-of-custody forms, and troubleshooting a sampler that froze overnight. That detail helped me picture myself in the role - and start asking better questions in my informational interviews. The self-assessment in Chapter 2 also helped confirm this could be a good fit.

I've been working in a lab for a year and was debating whether to move into environmental work. This book was honest that the field has its repetitive parts but also showed the variety - one day you might be collecting stormwater samples, the next you're compiling a report. I appreciated that it gave actual numbers for pay and demand rather than vague promises. It helped me decide to make the switch.

Decent book overall, but I was hoping for more depth on certain topics. The salary chapter gave good ranges, but the job search advice in Chapter 5 felt a bit generic - a lot of it applies to any field. I also wanted more about specific industries like oil and gas versus municipal work, but it didn't go that deep. Still, it was a useful starting point for someone like me who was totally new to the occupation.

The book is fine, but it reads a bit cautiously in spots - almost like it's trying not to oversell the job. I get that the authors wanted to be honest, but I would have appreciated a bit more enthusiasm about the good parts of the career. The chapter on daily work was accurate to what my friend in the field described, so the credibility is there. Just felt a little flat compared to what I expected.

Probably more useful for a high schooler or someone with zero exposure to the field than for someone already doing adjacent work. I work in a water lab, so a lot of the basics I already knew. That said, the salary comparison across experience levels and the education comparison table were helpful for planning my next steps. Worth a read, but I wouldn't expect it to be a deep technical resource.