Environmental Internships
Environmental internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in fieldwork, data analysis, and regulatory compliance, mentorship from working environmental scientists and engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Consulting & Professional Services, Manufacturing, and Education, with Burns & McDonnell, Crothall Healthcare, and Kimley-Horn among the employers posting roles now.
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TRC has long set the bar for clients who require more than just engineering, combining science with the latest technology to devise innovative solutions that stand the test of time. From pipelines to power plants, roadways to reservoirs, schoolyards to security solutions, clients look to TRC for breakthrough thinking backed by the innovative follow-through of an industry leader.
We recognize that the expertise of our staff is our strongest asset, so we generously reward employees for successful performance and invest in their careers through training and the development of new skills and certifications.
TRC is seeking highly motivated and diverse Environmental Interns for our Summer 2027 intern program out of our West Allis, WI Office. This is a paid full-time position. Anticipated duration will be from June through August 2027 (flexible). This position has the potential to transition into a Full-Time role upon graduation. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Project Managers and Team Leaders and partner with engineers, scientists, and technologists.
- Support various project tasks including regulatory requirements/review estimates, research, procurement support, etc.
- Perform data entry, data management, data evaluation, and data presentation.
- Support the preparation of reports, plans and specifications for client.
- May work on field assignments as needed.
- Will be supported by leaders, mentors and teammates.
- Perform other related duties and responsibilities as necessary.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Pursuing Bachelor or Associate Degree in Environmental Science or related field.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Has excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Possesses solid technical and problem-solving skills.
- Self-motivated, detail orientated person.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
- Honest, fun, hard-working and ready to learn and grow.
- Experience with engineering software applications (AutoCad, MathCad, ESRI, HydroCad, WaterCad, ARCView GIS, etc.) is preferred but not required.
Benefits: TRC ensures that interns/trainees receive benefits in accordance with the laws of their state or country of residence.
Compensation: In accordance with local law, the below salary range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition. Compensation will vary based upon experience, education, skill level, geographical location, and other compensable factors.
The complete job description and application are available on TRC’s career site.
TRC has long set the bar for clients who require more than just engineering, combining science with the latest technology to devise innovative solutions that stand the test of time. From pipelines to power plants, roadways to reservoirs, schoolyards to security solutions, clients look to TRC for breakthrough thinking backed by the innovative follow-through of an industry leader.
We recognize that the expertise of our staff is our strongest asset, so we generously reward employees for successful performance and invest in their careers through training and the development of new skills and certifications.
TRC is seeking highly motivated and diverse Environmental Interns for our Summer 2027 intern program out of our West Allis, WI Office. This is a paid full-time position. Anticipated duration will be from June through August 2027 (flexible). This position has the potential to transition into a Full-Time role upon graduation. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Project Managers and Team Leaders and partner with engineers, scientists, and technologists.
- Support various project tasks including regulatory requirements/review estimates, research, procurement support, etc.
- Perform data entry, data management, data evaluation, and data presentation.
- Support the preparation of reports, plans and specifications for client.
- May work on field assignments as needed.
- Will be supported by leaders, mentors and teammates.
- Perform other related duties and responsibilities as necessary.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Pursuing Bachelor or Associate Degree in Environmental Science or related field.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Has excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Possesses solid technical and problem-solving skills.
- Self-motivated, detail orientated person.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
- Honest, fun, hard-working and ready to learn and grow.
- Experience with engineering software applications (AutoCad, MathCad, ESRI, HydroCad, WaterCad, ARCView GIS, etc.) is preferred but not required.
Benefits: TRC ensures that interns/trainees receive benefits in accordance with the laws of their state or country of residence.
Compensation: In accordance with local law, the below salary range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition. Compensation will vary based upon experience, education, skill level, geographical location, and other compensable factors.
The complete job description and application are available on TRC’s career site.
Environmental Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Manufacturing
- Education
- Chemicals & Materials
- Construction & Real Estate
Tips for Your Environmental Internship Search
Apply months before the summer start date
Large employers, federal agencies, major environmental consulting firms, and corporate sustainability teams, open summer cohort applications the preceding fall, with many deadlines in October and November. If you wait until spring, the structured programs are already closed. Start identifying target employers by September and submit before Thanksgiving.
Build a project portfolio before you need it
Environmental intern recruiters want something concrete to assess, not just a list of classes. Document two or three projects with your methods, tools, and results visible, a GIS analysis, a field data report, a water quality study, or a regulatory memo. Host them somewhere shareable so you can drop a link in every application.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. At the same time, apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts, many don't recruit on campus at all. Both channels together reach more of the market than either one alone.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Environmental intern interviews often include a technical component, a data analysis or GIS exercise, a case study on remediation or regulatory compliance, or questions on field sampling methods. Practice explaining your reasoning as you work through problems, not just arriving at the right answer. Interviewers weigh how you think as much as what you conclude.
Target structured conservation and environmental programs early
Established pipelines like Student Conservation Association placements, agency pathways internships, and large consulting firm cohorts are built to train people new to environmental work. They recruit early, fill fast, and often prefer candidates who apply in the first wave. Identify the programs that match your focus area and treat their deadlines as your hard deadlines.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 72% of the environmental internships listed here. Decide what you can actually commit to, on-site fieldwork, a hybrid schedule, or fully remote data or policy work, before you start reviewing listings. Filtering by work type and location upfront means you spend your time on roles you can take, not ones you'll decline after an interview.
Environmental Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an environmental internship?
Lead with coursework, field projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited professional experience at the intern level. For environmental candidates, the concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a documented field study, GIS map, or data analysis with your methods visible. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an environmental internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for environmental interns is performance on real project work, whether the team has open headcount at the end of the summer, and timing your expression of interest before the return-offer window closes. Position for one by delivering consistently, but don't count on it when planning your job search.
When should I apply for environmental internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, federal agencies, major consulting firms, and Fortune 500 companies with sustainability teams, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often with deadlines in October and November. Smaller companies, nonprofits, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round and a late search still turns up real options.
Are environmental internships paid?
Most professional environmental internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, a large engineering firm or federal agency typically pays more than a small nonprofit. Listings show compensation where the employer discloses it, so you can compare opportunities as you search rather than finding out late in the process.
What should an environmental internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history, name the tools used and link to the work where possible: a published field report, a GIS map or spatial analysis, a water quality dataset with methodology, or a regulatory compliance writeup. Add relevant coursework in environmental science, ecology, or policy. Keep everything to one page.
Are there remote environmental internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 28% of the environmental internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early once you decide what you can commit to. Use the work-type filter to see only remote or hybrid openings and avoid sorting through roles that don't fit your situation.
What is a Student Conservation Association (SCA) internship?
The Student Conservation Association runs one of the most established structured internship pipelines in environmental work, placing people new to conservation, land management, and resource protection with federal agencies and nonprofits across the country. Programs target students and recent graduates, recruit early in the cycle, and are competitive, identify the placements that match your focus and apply in the first wave of openings.
Can international students get environmental internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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