EPA Jobs: Help the Government Protect the Environment
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employs thousands of people around the country so EPA jobs are plentiful. Given their mission of enforcing regulations, many government job seekers would be surprised at how many scientists and engineers, including students, the EPA employs in various capacities.
Working at the EPA
Their area of responsibility is given in their name, specifically to enforce regulations related to protecting the nation's air, soil, and water. In addition to enforcing regulations, the EPA conducts research on a range of environmental science topics at several research centers, like the National Center for Computational Toxicology and the National Exposure Research Laboratory.
The EPA is not just a scientific or technical agency either. Lawyers, social science majors, and business students would also find many opportunities in the regulatory, communications, and management branches of EPA. These jobs are available to individuals with both undergraduate degrees and graduate/professional degrees.
Primary Career Fields
Though the EPA has positions in communications, editing, research, and other fields, most of their job openings fall into three categories.
Careers for Scientists - The EPA employs biologists, ecologists, environmental health sciences experts, environmental toxicologists, physicists, hydrologists, chemists and geologists, microbiologists. The Recent Graduates program is a great source of opportunities for early career scientists.
Careers for Lawyers - EPA attorneys work on a range of regulatory issues and are given considerable responsibilities early in the careers. The EPA Office of General Counsel and all regional offices employee lawyers, but not all of the openings are advertised on USAJobs, the federal government job site. EPA's job board has openings at several regional counsel offices and at the General Counsel Office.
Careers for Engineers - Environmental and mechanical engineers can find work on one of many EPA applied science projects. The Recent Graduates program is a source of opportunity to engineers who are at the beginning of their careers.
Careers for Mathematicians - The Recent Graduates program sometimes has opportunities available for mathematicians. Data analysis work in the EPA research centers can also create opportunities for statisticians and mathematicians.
In addition to numerous career openings, the EPA offers many opportunities for students and recent graduates.
Other Employment Opportunities
Students and recent graduates can participate in a variety of opportunities at the EPA. Students with graduate degrees in engineering and science can pursue fellowships and post-doctoral research opportunities. Law students and recent law school graduates can intern at the EPA, which also offers a few fellowships to law students. Finally, the EPA offers some internships to college students and offers limited opportunities for students to work as contractors.
Internships - The EPA offers paid and unpaid internships available each year. This year they advertised a few paid internships in the Boston area and one in Arlington, Virginia.
Fellowships - The EPA career site lists eight government fellowship programs in the areas of environmental management, public health, public relations and communications and other fields. Doctoral students in natural sciences and engineering decisions should look into these fellowships, which can last up to four years. Over 300 post-docs currently work at various EPA offices and research centers.
Opportunities for Law School Grads and Law Students - The agency currently offers several internship opportunities in Washington, DC and one or two in eight of 10 regions.
Student Contractors - The Office of Research and Development employees students in locations around the country. In the past, student contractors have worked in Washington, DC, Duluth, MN, Gulf Breeze, FL and Las Vegas. The fellowships and internships are advertised on the EPA career site.
Find an EPA Job
The entry point for finding any government job is USAJobs, but mostly for executive and judicial jobs. See below for our jobs list for the Environmental Protection Agency along with private-sector environmental companies and non-profits:
Working at the EPA
Their area of responsibility is given in their name, specifically to enforce regulations related to protecting the nation's air, soil, and water. In addition to enforcing regulations, the EPA conducts research on a range of environmental science topics at several research centers, like the National Center for Computational Toxicology and the National Exposure Research Laboratory.
The EPA is not just a scientific or technical agency either. Lawyers, social science majors, and business students would also find many opportunities in the regulatory, communications, and management branches of EPA. These jobs are available to individuals with both undergraduate degrees and graduate/professional degrees.
Primary Career Fields
Though the EPA has positions in communications, editing, research, and other fields, most of their job openings fall into three categories.
Careers for Scientists - The EPA employs biologists, ecologists, environmental health sciences experts, environmental toxicologists, physicists, hydrologists, chemists and geologists, microbiologists. The Recent Graduates program is a great source of opportunities for early career scientists.
Careers for Lawyers - EPA attorneys work on a range of regulatory issues and are given considerable responsibilities early in the careers. The EPA Office of General Counsel and all regional offices employee lawyers, but not all of the openings are advertised on USAJobs, the federal government job site. EPA's job board has openings at several regional counsel offices and at the General Counsel Office.
Careers for Engineers - Environmental and mechanical engineers can find work on one of many EPA applied science projects. The Recent Graduates program is a source of opportunity to engineers who are at the beginning of their careers.
Careers for Mathematicians - The Recent Graduates program sometimes has opportunities available for mathematicians. Data analysis work in the EPA research centers can also create opportunities for statisticians and mathematicians.
In addition to numerous career openings, the EPA offers many opportunities for students and recent graduates.
Other Employment Opportunities
Students and recent graduates can participate in a variety of opportunities at the EPA. Students with graduate degrees in engineering and science can pursue fellowships and post-doctoral research opportunities. Law students and recent law school graduates can intern at the EPA, which also offers a few fellowships to law students. Finally, the EPA offers some internships to college students and offers limited opportunities for students to work as contractors.
Internships - The EPA offers paid and unpaid internships available each year. This year they advertised a few paid internships in the Boston area and one in Arlington, Virginia.
Fellowships - The EPA career site lists eight government fellowship programs in the areas of environmental management, public health, public relations and communications and other fields. Doctoral students in natural sciences and engineering decisions should look into these fellowships, which can last up to four years. Over 300 post-docs currently work at various EPA offices and research centers.
Opportunities for Law School Grads and Law Students - The agency currently offers several internship opportunities in Washington, DC and one or two in eight of 10 regions.
Student Contractors - The Office of Research and Development employees students in locations around the country. In the past, student contractors have worked in Washington, DC, Duluth, MN, Gulf Breeze, FL and Las Vegas. The fellowships and internships are advertised on the EPA career site.
Find an EPA Job
The entry point for finding any government job is USAJobs, but mostly for executive and judicial jobs. See below for our jobs list for the Environmental Protection Agency along with private-sector environmental companies and non-profits:
