The environmental health technician profession is known for identifying, assessing, treating and correcting environmental risks, issues and challenges. In simple words, these professionals ensure the environment is kept clean and healthy.
From what we gathered, the monthly earnings of environmental health technicians in Nigeria are between 50,000 Naira to 250,000 Naira per month.
Presently in Nigeria, this profession is not populated with professionals compared to other fields like medicine or engineering making this a great course option for you.
What is Environmental Health Technician Salary in Nigeria
Level | Salary (Naira) |
Entry Level | 50,000 |
Experienced | 250,000 |
Also, other than the job provision this profession offers you, there is the salary earned per month which is on average when compared to other professions in Nigeria. Ensure you read to the end to get sufficient information.
An environmental health technician is a cadre in the field of environmental health. Meaning there are other aspects of the profession. Nonetheless, their job specialization is not different. The environmental health professionals work in the public sector and they carry out the task of identifying and correcting various environmental health issues.
Environmental health technicians’ aspect of the job is to examine the environment as well as the impact it has on the population, and in turn, determine what issues may exist in the environment, and then work to ensure they find a way to combat those problems.
Enough of what they and discuss more about the earning of these professionals which I believe is the main aim of coming here. We have discussed the environmental health technicians’ salaries in Nigeria below.
Environmental Health Technician Salary in Nigeria
Before you opt to become an environmental health technician, you need to find out if it is worth your time, energy and resources, especially in terms of the salary earned per month.
From what we gathered, the monthly earnings of environmental health technicians in Nigeria are between 50,000 Naira to 250,000 Naira per month.
However, the stated amount above can be different considering factors such as:
- Job level
- Years of experience
- Health facility where they work
- Location of health facility
Average Salary
The average salary of environmental health technicians in Nigeria is 110,000 Naira. This is the amount earned by professionals who have working experience from 5 years and above and have gained significant promotion during their work.
Note that there are employees that earn higher than the average salary and there are those that earn lesser.
Entry Level Salary
Entry-level salary is referred to as the basic salary paid to fresh graduates who just landed a job. This salary is usually lower than the average salary but, it increases over years of experience and job level.
As an environmental health technician, the entry-level salary is usually between 40,000 to 60,000 Naira. Only a few healthcare facilities in Nigeria pay an entry-level salary that is more than 40,000 Naira for a start, and this is rare.
Senior Level Salary
The environmental health technician’s senior-level salary in Nigeria is usually between 180,000 to 250,000 naira.
The Senior level salary is by far higher than the entry-level salary and the average salary. The senior-level salary is paid to environmental health technicians in Nigeria who have gathered work experience that is over 10 years and above as well as higher job level.
Where can they Work?
As an environmental health technician, it is critical to find the right place where you can work, and knowing where your skills and expertise are valued allows you to make an informed career choice.
As you know, it is not enough to become an environmental health professional, it is equally important to know where you can work upon the completion of your training.
Typically, environmental Health Technicians work in public or private sector laboratories and health departments under the management of the Environmental Health Officer/Scientist/Technologist.
Other places where they can work include:
- Military/Paramilitary agencies
- Nongovernmental organization
- Health agencies
- Academic institutions, among others
Now that you know the various places where environmental health technicians can work, you should locate the one that you can fit in and work perfectly.
Types of Jobs available for Environmental Health Technicians
Environmental health technicians have different types of jobs they do in the organization where they are employed, be it in the private or public sector.
The job specialization of environmental health technicians are listed below:
- Pollution control and management
- Environmental health assessment
- Water resources management and sanitation
- Environmental health promotion
- Environmental educationist
- Tutors in academic institutions
- Pest control and management
- Environmental Researcher
- Environmental health control of housing and sanitation
The job specialization of an environmental health technician is diverse. However, we can identify a few which are listed above and are the major types of jobs they can do.
Roles / Duties of Auxiliary Nurses
Truth be told, environmental health technicians play a vital role in the healthcare setting. Their job description might sound simple but it is one of the most strenuous jobs as they are responsible for a variety of tasks and activities throughout the working day.
So, while an environmental health technician work under the supervision of the Environmental Health Officer/Scientist/Technologist, their roles include:
- Collecting samples such as soil, water, and waste from the environment
- Recording those samples and testing them for contaminants or other health issues.
- Ensuring that all regulatory codes are followed during construction or any environmental activity.
- Investigating complaints about various environmental violations.
- Keeping all records of various environmental issues.
- Meeting with various policymakers or public officials and consulting on various environmental issues
- Ensuring that all local and state codes are followed correctly.
Typically, an environmental health technician’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the local environment is fully protected and that any health risks posed by the environment are addressed promptly and properly. It’s a critical position with a direct impact on the health of an entire community.
How to become an Environmental Health Technician
The process of becoming an environmental health technician is not different from that of other professions. The basic step is to enrol into an academic institution where you can go through formal training, which comprises both theoretical and practical activities.
The basic requirements you need to have before enrolling to study is to have five (5) ‘O’ level credit passes in English, Biology/Health Science, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.
The course duration is 3-years in most colleges of health institutions around Nigeria.
How to become an Environmental Health Technician
There are skillsets that a sound environmental health technician needs to possess to carry out their job functions optimally. However, most time the specific requirements for employment vary depending on the employer and the type of position in question.
The vital skillsets of an environmental health technician include:
- Analytic skill
- Strong sense of judgement
- Interpersonal skill
- Critical thinker
- Strong mathematics and science skills
- Communication skills
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Conclusion
The field of environmental health technicians in Nigeria remains green considering the few numbers of professionals available. Considering the increase in environmental activities and impact, and the clamour for more environmental professionals, you can take advantage of this profession. Also, considering the amount these professionals earn per month. Although the salary is not what you expect, with time as you gain increased years of working experience and more academic qualifications, the salary increases.