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.

Find Environmental Specialist Jobs

Overview

Open roles31
Top employerMemorial Health
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring23
Work type75% On-site
Top industryEnergy

Showing 5 of 31+ Environmental Specialist jobs

S&C Electric Company
Senior Safety & Environmental Specialist
We won't show you this job again
S&C Electric Company
Added 2d ago
Senior Safety & Environmental Specialist
S&C Electric Company
Chicago, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Engineering
Data Science
$88k - $116k.18/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

DuPage County Health Department
Environmental Health Specialist I
We won't show you this job again
DuPage County Health Department
Added 4d ago
Environmental Health Specialist I
DuPage County Health Department
Wheaton, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Environmental Science
Bachelor's degree
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

Illinois School District U-46
Environmental and Sustainability Specialist
We won't show you this job again
Illinois School District U-46
Added 5d ago
Environmental and Sustainability Specialist
Illinois School District U-46
Elgin, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Engineering
Data Science
$50k - $75k/yr
High school diploma or GED
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

DuPage County Health Department
Environmental Health Specialist I
We won't show you this job again
DuPage County Health Department
Added 5d ago
Environmental Health Specialist I
DuPage County Health Department
Westmont, Illinois
Corporate Training
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Learning & Development
Bachelor's degree
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

Peoria County
Environmental Health Training Specialist
We won't show you this job again
Peoria County
Added 1w ago
Environmental Health Training Specialist
Peoria County
Peoria, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Environmental Science
Bachelor's degree

Have you applied for this role?

See All 31 Environmental Specialist Jobs in Illinois

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

Find Environmental Specialist Jobs

Environmental Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
5 jobs
Elgin
2 jobs
Quincy
2 jobs
Decatur
2 jobs
Northbrook
2 jobs
Aurora
1 job
Peoria
1 job
LaSalle
1 job
Tremont
1 job

Environmental Specialist Job Market in Illinois

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

Who's Hiring

Memorial Health
Memorial Health3 open roles
UL Solutions
UL Solutions2 open roles
S&C Electric Company
S&C Electric Company2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Energy
  • 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, UL Solutions, and S&C Electric Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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 Quincy. 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 25% of environmental specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 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.

Find Environmental Specialist Jobs