Duties and responsibilities
Sanitary engineers design and direct the construction and operation of hygienic projects. Such projects include waterworks, sewage, garbage and trash disposal. Their key tasks include:
- Inspecting facilities
- Analyzing the operating methods of business and public facilities
- Determining the safest waste disposal method
- Designing and proposing systems for disposal and treatment of waste products
- Estimating costs
- Managing the waste system construction
- Sourcing the relevant contractors
Qualifications
Sanitary engineers will need a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from an ABET-accredited program. To obtain licensure, all engineers will need to pass several exams, participate in internships and obtain work experience. Many engineers will then go on to achieve a masters degree as this will allow them to enter high paying management positions.
Skills and relevant work experience
Sanitary engineers will need skills such as:
- Problem-solving skills, as sanitary engineers will need to come up with effective waste disposal solutions
- Leadership skills, as sanitary engineers will lead projects and instruct subcontractors
- Communication skills, (both written and verbal) to communicate with other professionals and keep reports up to date
- Analytical skills, as sanitary engineers will need to analyze data and models to formulate solutions
- Computer skills, as sanitary engineers will have to use various softwares to create efficient hygienic systems
Hours
Sanitary engineers are likely to work full time hours (40 hours per week).
Salary
According to glassdoor.com, the median annual salary for a sanitary engineer in the United States is $72,323. At the lower end, they can expect to earn around $51,000 per year and at the higher end, they can expect to earn around $110,000 per year.
Progression
By obtaining a masters degree, any type of engineer will have lots more opportunities. They may progress to move into project management, consultancy, research and lecturing.