by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 11 U.S. colleges awarded 21 degrees and certificates in Environmental Chemistry. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 43% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $46,311 one year after completing, rising to $74,187 after four years.
A degree in Environmental Chemistry involves the study of Environmental Chemistry. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Natural Systems (Air, Water, And Soil) Through The Use Of Chemical Techniques And Instrumentation, With An Emphasis On The Movement And Fate Of Pollutants And Chemical Aspects Of Contaminant Remediation. Includes Instruction In Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, And Physical Chemistry; Aquatic, Soil, And Atmospheric Chemistry; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Toxicology; And Analytical Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, environmental chemistry is a widely-pursued major, with 21 degrees awarded annually. 11 colleges award environmental chemistry degrees, an average of 2 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4.
By level, the 21 awards include 9 bachelor’s degrees, 7 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of environmental chemistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (13 of 21). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (12) and Hispanic or Latino (2), and international students earned 4.
The most common environmental chemistry credential is the bachelor’s degree: 9 of the 21 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to environmental chemistry call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
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How long an environmental chemistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to environmental chemistry, at 33.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.7% |
| Master’s degree | 23.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Environmental Chemistry, with an average median salary of $84,889; the strongest outlook belongs to Chemical Technicians, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager and Associate Professor.
The occupation related to environmental chemistry with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 287,657 | 10.6% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | 173,597 | 7.1% |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 159,640 | 3.9% |
| Industrial Ecologists | 136,627 | 8.5% |
| Chemical Technicians | 136,017 | 11.6% |
Environmental Chemistry graduates earn a median $46,311 one year after completing their program, $74,187 after four years and $72,061 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,311 |
| 4 years | $74,187 |
| 5 years | $72,061 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to environmental chemistry is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,485 |
| Industrial Ecologists | $83,212 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Environmental Restoration Planners | $61,737 |
Environmental Chemistry has 10 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 19,840 degrees a year; the largest are Chemistry, General (18,718), Chemistry, Other (574) and Forensic Chemistry (363). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry, General | 18,718 |
| Chemistry, Other | 574 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 363 |
| Polymer Chemistry | 72 |
| Chemical Physics | 44 |
| Analytical Chemistry | 38 |
| Organic Chemistry | 9 |
| Physical Chemistry | 9 |
| Theoretical Chemistry | 9 |
| Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.