Air Quality Specialist

An air quality specialist is someone who is trained to research, inspect, and investigate levels of air pollution and take steps to ensure air quality to address public health concerns.

The career outlook for an air quality specialist is good. They make on average $35-$45 thousand a year.

An air quality specialist may work in indoor or outdoor settings and performs duties like sampling and testing of air quality, investigating public complaints, and working with individuals and families to address indoor air pollution issues like toxic mold and particulate matter in the air. Air quality specialists who work in government may use specialized equipment to measure air pollution, determine whether businesses are in compliance with local, state, and federal air quality regulations, and issue warnings and citations to companies that are out of compliance.

An air quality specialist performs an important job to ensure healthy, clean air to minimize public health risks. Air pollution can also have detrimental effects on natural ecology and wildlife, and air quality specialists play a key role in evaluating the impact of air pollution on people and ecological systems.

An air quality specialist may work in indoor settings to determine air quality in homes, businesses, and government offices. They may work in companies that serve private citizens, or for government agencies that monitor conditions in the work place as well. Those who work outdoors typically work for government agencies to monitor compliance with air quality regulations. If you enjoy taking samples and field measurements, analyzing conditions and reporting on data, and proposing solutions to air quality problems, you may enjoy a career as an air quality specialist.

Jobs in air quality typically require a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, environmental science, or related areas. On-the-job training is sometimes available for those who have not completed undergraduate studies in one of these areas. In many cases, hands on experience in air quality testing and control can substitute for educational requirements for jobs in both the private and public sector.