Environmental Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Environmental Specialist jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in industrial compliance, remediation, and environmental consulting across manufacturing, energy, and municipal sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level field technician to senior program manager. The heaviest hiring is in Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria, where established employers like Exelon, Caterpillar, and AECOM maintain significant Illinois operations and regularly bring on environmental professionals. The most sought-after specialties in the state are hazardous waste management, Phase I and Phase II site assessments, and air quality permitting under Illinois EPA regulations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles31
Top employerMemorial Health
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring25
Work type57% On-site
Top industryChemicals

Showing 5 of 31+ Environmental Specialist jobs

Environmental Protection Specialist IV
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Added 2d ago
Environmental Protection Specialist IV
State of Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Service
Sales
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering
10,000+

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Sr Environmental Specialist
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Added 2d ago
Sr Environmental Specialist
Constellation Energy
Clinton, Illinois
Business Analysis
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$101k - $151k/yr
Master's degree in business
10,000+

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Environmental Health Specialist
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Added 3d ago
Environmental Health Specialist
Iroquois County Public Health Department
Watseka, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Environmental Science
On-Site
Associate's degree

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Environmental Specialist - Belvidere, IL
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Added 5d ago
Environmental Specialist - Belvidere, IL
General Mills
Belvidere, Illinois
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$82k - $124k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Forestry Extension and Research Specialist - Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences
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Added 1w ago
Forestry Extension and Research Specialist - Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$72k - $76k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 31 Environmental Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Environmental Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
5 jobs
Elgin
2 jobs
Urbana
2 jobs
Aurora
1 job
Quincy
1 job
Roxana
1 job
Clinton
1 job
Decatur
1 job
Lincoln
1 job

Environmental Specialist Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Memorial Health2 open roles
University of Illinois2 open roles
DuPage County Health Department2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Chemicals & Materials

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in environmental specialist jobs across Illinois.

  • Familiarity with Illinois EPA regulations and IEPA permit compliance requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in environmental science, chemistry, geology, or a related field
  • Experience conducting Phase I or Phase II environmental site assessments
  • HAZWOPER 40-hour certification or willingness to complete training before start date
  • Proficiency with GIS mapping software and environmental data management systems
  • Valid driver's license and ability to travel to field sites across Illinois

Environmental Specialist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a environmental specialist in Illinois?

Most environmental specialist positions in Illinois require a bachelor's degree in environmental science, geology, chemistry, or a closely related field. The Illinois EPA does not issue a single statewide environmental specialist license, but many roles require or strongly prefer certifications such as HAZWOPER, and site remediation work may involve registration under the Illinois Site Remediation Program. Employers in regulated industries also value familiarity with IEPA permit processes and reporting requirements from the start.

How much do environmental specialists make in Illinois?

Environmental specialists in Illinois earn a median of about $81,590 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $46,540 for the lowest 10% to over $153,150 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire environmental specialists in Illinois?

Employers hiring environmental specialists in Illinois right now include Memorial Health, University of Illinois, and DuPage County Health Department, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of heavy manufacturing, utility infrastructure, and brownfield redevelopment projects keeps demand for environmental specialists steady across both the private sector and government contractors.

Which Illinois cities have the most environmental specialist jobs?

The Illinois cities with the most environmental specialist openings are Chicago, Elgin, and Urbana. Chicago leads because it is home to major consulting firms, utility companies, and a large stock of industrial and brownfield sites requiring ongoing remediation, while Rockford and Peoria reflect the strong manufacturing base that generates consistent compliance and permitting work in those metro areas.

Are there remote environmental specialist jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're relatively limited. Environmental specialist work is largely field-based, involving site visits, sampling, and on-site compliance inspections that cannot be done remotely. About 43% of environmental specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in data analysis, report writing, and regulatory review roles rather than fieldwork.

How can I get hired as a environmental specialist in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an environmental technician or field sampler role, which Illinois consulting firms and remediation contractors use to bring on candidates without extensive experience. Large Illinois employers like environmental engineering firms operating out of Chicago frequently hire recent graduates for field support positions. Completing a HAZWOPER 40-hour certification before applying gives candidates a clear edge. Lateral moves from adjacent roles in chemistry lab work, geology field tech, or municipal public works are also common routes into specialist positions.

Where can I find and apply to environmental specialist jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to environmental specialist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from Illinois employers. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 31 Environmental Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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