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Emergency Medical Services Careers and Jobs

Select, Find and Prepare for Emergency Medical Services Careers and Jobs - all on one page

For people who want fast-paced, hands-on emergency medical work without a multi-year nursing or medical degree. Use the tools below to see which emergency medical services roles fit your background and goals.

This field has a clear, tiered licensure ladder (EMT to Paramedic) that directly determines scope of practice and pay. Use the tools below to explore Emergency Medical Services-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like EMT-Basic, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Paramedic or Flight Paramedic. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as National Registry EMT (NREMT) / Paramedic License, that can help you move up the career ladder.



4 Steps to Use This Page: 1-Explore Careers of Intrerest 2-See Job Listings Matched to Career 3-Prepare for the Career 4-See External Career Resources

Here is a short Helper Video External Link

This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Emergency Medical Services careers/jobs, (2) Find Emergency Medical Services job listings, (3) Prepare for Emergency Medical Services careers, and (4) Provide Emergency Medical Services career-specific resources.

Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Emergency Medical Services careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Emergency Medical Services Careers - 2025 to 2035 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Emergency Medical Services careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Emergency Medical Services, so relevant Emergency Medical Services jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Emergency Medical Services Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Emergency Medical Services Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Emergency Medical Services careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 33 Emergency Medical Services Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.

Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.

Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.

** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.

Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.




Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job

10 Emergency Medical Services careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2025 to 2035 est.). Emergency Medical Services-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:

Occupations U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035 (% change) Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs

Medical and Health Services Managers 24.2% EMS Coordinator (Emergency Medical Services Coordinator); EMS Manager (Emergency Medical Services Manager)
Occupation: Medical and Health Services Managers U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 24.2% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMS Coordinator (Emergency Medical Services Coordinator); EMS Manager (Emergency Medical Services Manager)
Emergency Medical Technicians 5.8% Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT); Emergency Medical Driver; Emergency Medical Responder; Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic); EMT-I/85; EMT-I/99; EMT-P; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver; Paramedic
Occupation: Emergency Medical Technicians U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 5.8% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT); Emergency Medical Driver; Emergency Medical Responder; Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic); EMT-I/85; EMT-I/99; EMT-P; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver; Paramedic
Paramedics 5.7% Critical Care Flight Paramedic; Critical Care Paramedic; ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic); Firefighter Paramedic; Flight Paramedic; Paramedic Specialist (PS)
Occupation: Paramedics U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 5.7% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Critical Care Flight Paramedic; Critical Care Paramedic; ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic); Firefighter Paramedic; Flight Paramedic; Paramedic Specialist (PS)
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers 5.5% Ski Patrol Paramedic
Occupation: Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 5.5% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Ski Patrol Paramedic
Commercial Pilots 5.2% EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot); EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot); EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)
Occupation: Commercial Pilots U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 5.2% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot); EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot); EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)
Firefighters 3.7% Firefighter Paramedic
Occupation: Firefighters U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 3.7% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Firefighter Paramedic
Public Safety Telecommunicators 3.7% Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
Occupation: Public Safety Telecommunicators U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 3.7% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians -1.3% Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator; EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver); EMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder); EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic); Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver
Occupation: Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: -1.3% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator; EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver); EMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder); EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic); Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators -1.8% EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
Occupation: Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: -1.8% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
Medical Transcriptionists -4.4% Emergency Medical Scribe
Occupation: Medical Transcriptionists U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: -4.4% Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Scribe

11 Emergency Medical Services careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Emergency Medical Services-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::

Occupations National Median Salary Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs

Medical and Health Services Managers $ 123,860 EMS Coordinator (Emergency Medical Services Coordinator); EMS Manager (Emergency Medical Services Manager)
Occupation: Medical and Health Services Managers National Median Salary: $ 123,860 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMS Coordinator (Emergency Medical Services Coordinator); EMS Manager (Emergency Medical Services Manager)
Commercial Pilots $ 123,220 EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot); EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot); EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)
Occupation: Commercial Pilots National Median Salary: $ 123,220 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot); EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot); EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)
Coroners $ 80,730 Paramedical Examiner
Occupation: Coroners National Median Salary: $ 80,730 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Paramedical Examiner
Paramedics $ 60,600 Critical Care Flight Paramedic; Critical Care Paramedic; ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic); Firefighter Paramedic; Flight Paramedic; Paramedic Specialist (PS)
Occupation: Paramedics National Median Salary: $ 60,600 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Critical Care Flight Paramedic; Critical Care Paramedic; ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic); Firefighter Paramedic; Flight Paramedic; Paramedic Specialist (PS)
Firefighters $ 59,280 Firefighter Paramedic
Occupation: Firefighters National Median Salary: $ 59,280 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Firefighter Paramedic
Public Safety Telecommunicators $ 53,040 Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
Occupation: Public Safety Telecommunicators National Median Salary: $ 53,040 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
Emergency Medical Technicians $ 44,470 Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT); Emergency Medical Driver; Emergency Medical Responder; Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic); EMT-I/85; EMT-I/99; EMT-P; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver; Paramedic
Occupation: Emergency Medical Technicians National Median Salary: $ 44,470 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT); Emergency Medical Driver; Emergency Medical Responder; Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic); EMT-I/85; EMT-I/99; EMT-P; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver; Paramedic
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators $ 43,370 EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
Occupation: Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators National Median Salary: $ 43,370 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
Medical Transcriptionists $ 40,410 Emergency Medical Scribe
Occupation: Medical Transcriptionists National Median Salary: $ 40,410 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Scribe
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians $ 35,450 Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator; EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver); EMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder); EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic); Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver
Occupation: Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians National Median Salary: $ 35,450 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator; EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver); EMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder); EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic); Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $ 33,580 Ski Patrol Paramedic
Occupation: Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers National Median Salary: $ 33,580 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Ski Patrol Paramedic

11 Emergency Medical Services careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Emergency Medical Services-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.

Education/Preparation Categories:
5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.)
4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree
3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree
2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always
Please Scroll and Select below:
Occupations Education/Preparation Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs

Medical and Health Services Managers 4 EMS Coordinator (Emergency Medical Services Coordinator); EMS Manager (Emergency Medical Services Manager)
Occupation: Medical and Health Services Managers Education/Preparation: 4 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMS Coordinator (Emergency Medical Services Coordinator); EMS Manager (Emergency Medical Services Manager)
Commercial Pilots 3 EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot); EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot); EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)
Occupation: Commercial Pilots Education/Preparation: 3 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot); EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot); EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)
Coroners 3 Paramedical Examiner
Occupation: Coroners Education/Preparation: 3 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Paramedical Examiner
Emergency Medical Technicians 3 Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT); Emergency Medical Driver; Emergency Medical Responder; Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic); EMT-I/85; EMT-I/99; EMT-P; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver; Paramedic
Occupation: Emergency Medical Technicians Education/Preparation: 3 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT); Emergency Medical Driver; Emergency Medical Responder; Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B); Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic); EMT-I/85; EMT-I/99; EMT-P; Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver; Paramedic
Medical Transcriptionists 3 Emergency Medical Scribe
Occupation: Medical Transcriptionists Education/Preparation: 3 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Scribe
Paramedics 3 Critical Care Flight Paramedic; Critical Care Paramedic; ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic); Firefighter Paramedic; Flight Paramedic; Paramedic Specialist (PS)
Occupation: Paramedics Education/Preparation: 3 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Critical Care Flight Paramedic; Critical Care Paramedic; ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic); EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic); ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic); Firefighter Paramedic; Flight Paramedic; Paramedic Specialist (PS)
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians 2 Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator; EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver); EMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder); EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic); Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver
Occupation: Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians Education/Preparation: 2 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator; EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver); EMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder); EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic); Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Driver
Firefighters 2 Firefighter Paramedic
Occupation: Firefighters Education/Preparation: 2 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Firefighter Paramedic
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators 2 EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
Occupation: Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Education/Preparation: 2 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers 2 Ski Patrol Paramedic
Occupation: Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Education/Preparation: 2 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Ski Patrol Paramedic
Public Safety Telecommunicators 2 Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
Occupation: Public Safety Telecommunicators Education/Preparation: 2 Emergency Medical Services-Related Jobs: Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)

Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 33 specific Emergency Medical Services job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:

hidden filler

Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below

Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.

Enter a Keyword (filter the list below)
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:



Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :

Step 2 of 4: Find a Job

Find Job Listings: Water/Wastewater Engineers.


Search results will open in a new tab.

Note: Job search results work best for U.S.-based locations. For international searches, try searching for "[job title] in [city, country]" directly on the selected job board, or visit their country-specific website.

Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career





Water/Wastewater Engineers

Description: Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Water/Wastewater Engineers":

Core Duties

Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 96 (%) Description: Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
Importance: 96 (%) Description: Design sludge treatment plants.
Importance: 95 (%) Description: Conduct feasibility studies for the construction of facilities, such as water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Design or select equipment for use in wastewater processing to ensure compliance with government standards.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Analyze and recommend sludge treatment or disposal methods.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Provide technical support on water resource or treatment issues to government agencies.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Conduct cost-benefit analyses for the construction of water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems.
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater.
Importance: 87 (%) Description: Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency.
Importance: 86 (%) Description: Write technical reports or publications related to water resources development or water use efficiency.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Design water runoff collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Oversee the construction of decentralized or on-site wastewater treatment systems, including reclaimed water facilities.
Importance: 78 (%) Description: Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use.
Importance: 78 (%) Description: Design water storage tanks or other water storage facilities.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Analyze storm water or floodplain drainage systems to control erosion, stabilize river banks, repair channel streams, or design bridges.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Conduct environmental impact studies related to water and wastewater collection, treatment, or distribution.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Perform hydraulic analyses of water supply systems or water distribution networks to model flow characteristics, test for pressure losses, or to identify opportunities to mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency.
Importance: 73 (%) Description: Conduct water quality studies to identify and characterize water pollutant sources.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Identify design alternatives for the development of new water resources.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Gather and analyze water use data to forecast water demand.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Develop plans for new water resources or water efficiency programs.
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Perform hydrological analyses, using three-dimensional simulation software, to model the movement of water or forecast the dispersion of chemical pollutants in the water supply.
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Analyze the efficiency of water delivery structures, such as dams, tainter gates, canals, pipes, penstocks, or cofferdams.
Supplemental Duties
Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 61 (%) Description: Perform mathematical modeling of underground or surface water resources, such as floodplains, ocean coastlines, streams, rivers, or wetlands.
Work Activities

Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 91 (%) Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Importance: 90 (%) Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Importance: 89 (%) Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Importance: 88 (%) Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Importance: 86 (%) Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Importance: 85 (%) Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Importance: 84 (%) Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Importance: 82 (%) Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Importance: 79 (%) Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Importance: 78 (%) Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Importance: 78 (%) Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Importance: 76 (%) Description: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Importance: 76 (%) Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Importance: 75 (%) Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Importance: 73 (%) Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Importance: 72 (%) Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Importance: 71 (%) Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Importance: 71 (%) Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Importance: 71 (%) Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Importance: 65 (%) Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Importance: 65 (%) Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Specific Work Activities

Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below:
Advise others regarding green practices or environmental concerns.
Analyze costs and benefits of proposed designs or projects.
Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
Analyze physical, survey, or geographic data.
Create models of engineering designs or methods.
Design civil structures or systems.
Design industrial processing systems.
Design structures or facilities.
Develop technical methods or processes.
Direct environmental development activities.
Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Prepare technical or operational reports.
Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
Research advanced engineering designs or applications.
Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.
Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
Knowledge Required

Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 92 (%) Description: Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Importance: 88 (%) Description: Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Importance: 75 (%) Description: Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Importance: 69 (%) Description: Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Importance: 69 (%) Description: Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Importance: 67 (%) Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Importance: 63 (%) Description: Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Importance: 63 (%) Description: Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Essential Skills

Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now?
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Importance: 60 (%) Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Importance: 58 (%) Description: Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Importance: 52 (%) Description: Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Transferable Skills

Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility?
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Importance: 52 (%) Description: Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Importance: 52 (%) Description: Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Day-in-the-Life Summaries

Day-in-the-Life Summaries
These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you?
Activity: Advise others on business or operational matters.
Activity: Advise others on environmental sustainability or green practices.
Activity: Advise others on the design or use of technologies.
Activity: Analyze data to improve operations.
Activity: Analyze environmental or geospatial data.
Activity: Design industrial systems or equipment.
Activity: Design structures or facilities.
Activity: Develop models of systems, processes, or products.
Activity: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards.
Activity: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures.
Activity: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data.
Activity: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies.
Activity: Identify business or organizational opportunities.
Activity: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities.
Activity: Plan work activities.
Activity: Present research or technical information.
Activity: Research technology designs or applications.
Activity: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects.
Activity: Supervise personnel activities.
Software Skills

Software Skills
These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job?
High-Priority Tech Skills
Computer aided design CAD software:
Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Autodesk Revit
Bentley MicroStation
Geographic information system:
ESRI ArcGIS software
Office suite software:
Microsoft Office software
Presentation software:
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software:
Microsoft Excel
Widely Used Tech Skills
Analytical or scientific software:
HEC-HMS
HEC-RAS
Emerging Tech Skills
Data base user interface and query software:
Microsoft Access
Structured query language SQL
Electronic mail software:
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software:
SAP software
Internet browser software:
Mozilla Firefox
Object or component oriented development software:
Oracle Java
Python
Operating system software:
Bash
Project management software:
Microsoft Project
Word processing software:
Microsoft Word
General Software Tools
Analytical or scientific software (scroll table below):
Bentley StormCAD
DHI MIKE URBAN
EPA Storm Water Management Model SWMM
HEC-1
HEC-GeoRAS
Hydraulic modeling software
KYPipe
Minitab
MWH Soft InfoSWMM
NIWA Tideda
Wallingford Software InfoSewer
Wallingford Software InfoWorks WS
XP Software XPSWMM
Computer aided design CAD software (scroll table below):
Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite
Bentley InRoads Suite
Bentley SewerCAD
Bentley WaterCAD
Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
Eagle Point LANDCADD
HydroCAD Software Solutions HydroCAD Stormwater Modeling System
OpenRoads Designer
Geographic information system:
ESRI software
Geographic information system GIS software
Geographic information system GIS systems
Industrial control software:
Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Internet browser software:
Google Chrome
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Web browser software
Map creation software:
MapInfo
Office suite software:
Business software applications
Preparation Required
Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job?
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

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.

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
Education Required

Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment
This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work?
Frequency of Attainment (%) Level of Education
Frequency of Attainment: 69.6 (%) Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree
Frequency of Attainment: 26.1 (%) Level of Education: Master's Degree
Frequency of Attainment: 4.4 (%) Level of Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Training and Experience Required

Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment
This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work?
Frequency of Attainment (%) Level of Training and Work Experience
Frequency of Attainment: 22.7 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Frequency of Attainment: 22.7 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Frequency of Attainment: 18.2 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: None
Frequency of Attainment: 9.1 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Frequency of Attainment: 9.1 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Frequency of Attainment: 9.1 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years
Frequency of Attainment: 4.6 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Frequency of Attainment: 4.6 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 8 years, up to and including 10 years
Certifications
Certifications
These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them?
Certified Waste Management Professional External Link
Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer External Link
Fire Protection: Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems - Level II External Link
Related Careers to Consider


Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources

This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Water/Wastewater Engineers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.

Videos

Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.


Resumes

Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.


Job Description

Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.


Interviews

There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.


Salary Data

Here are links to help you identify salary ranges for this occupation. These data are necessary prior to effective salary negotiations.


Raises

Here are resources that help you to prepare to ask for a raise. These links will help you to prepare for the salary negotiation process.


Jobs

Here are resources that lead to links for actual jobs related to "Water/Wastewater Engineers". Use these links to find a job.


Jobs

Here are resources that lead to links for actual jobs related to "Water/Wastewater Engineers". Use these links to find a job.


Classifieds

There are various sources for job classified ads. These links should help get you started to find a job for this occupation.


Step-by-Step

Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Water/Wastewater Engineers


Career Change

Here are resources to help you prepare for a career change. It is helpful to look carefully at the information provided in Section 3: Career Change (detailed previously on this page) prior to using these links. There is much to learn ...


LinkedIn®

Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.


Career Path

Here are links to various resources to help you explore the career path related to the "Water/Wastewater Engineers" occupation.






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