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There are lots of people who can be considered as environmental activists or those who like spending time outdoors.
If you are one of them, there is no point in refusing this part of your personality.
You can always transform your passion into your career and go ‘green’.
There are lots of career options such as stopping pollution, conserving natural resources, making clean energy and recycling efforts a reality or making agriculture more environmentally-friendly.
In this article, you can find 10 career options that will be really good options for nature lovers.
Article Table of Contents
Environment Engineer
An environmental engineer is a specialist that is responsible for solving various problems related to the natural environment.
Usually, such professionals study various environmental issues including climate changes, ozone layer depletion, acid rains, waste management, and pollution.
As soon as the reasons are revealed, environmental engineers start searching for possible solutions.
To be able to perform your duties properly, you need to enroll in a college program and obtain a degree to work as an environmental engineer.
If you want to obtain your Bachelor’s degree, you need to complete coursework on such subjects as chemistry, biology, engineering principles, and soil science.
Those who want to obtain an entry-level career, you aren’t obliged to obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) license.
Nevertheless, you’ll be obliged to obtain your license in the future if you want to get a promotion.
One important point is that this career has an excellent job outlook and the number of options increases constantly.
If you are looking for some ‘green’ career options, you should consider becoming an environmental engineer as it is a great job for those who want to protect the environment.
As a professional, you are going to use your skills and knowledge in order to reveal and resolve various problems and damages.
Also, environmental engineers are obliged to renovate or design systems for hazardous waste.
Moreover, they may look for and explore new methods of generating energy.
In other words, they work on various methods, procedures, and solutions that can help to reveal and resolve various environmental issues.
Just keep in mind that environmental engineer career doesn’t mean that you’ll be spending all your time working outdoors.
You should be able to combine various activities including some team-work in office and educational or informative seminars and presentations.
If you are interested in one particular threat, this job can be a great decision as it is a great opportunity to find a way to resolve the issue.
Average Annual Salary: $84,560
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering
Hydrologist
Those individuals who are interested in various water issues such as water pollution or scarcity, you should consider enrolling in a hydrologist career.
These specialists are responsible for various researches like water moves, water quality, and its quantity and try to resolve the problems that were revealed.
If you want to work in this sphere, you need to obtain an undergraduate college education.
You just need to know that there are only a few colleges that offer a program in hydrology so be ready to spend lots of time for a search.
As an alternative, you can look for some other programs in earth science, geosciences or engineering program and have courses in hydrology.
One other point is that there are no significant job options’ grow in this sphere.
Nevertheless, the number of threats that may influence our environment increases constantly which means that job offers may increase as well.
In fact, hydrologist is a great job option for those who love nature as this career is related to various environmental issues such as droughts, floods, soil, and land erosion and water pollution.
Problems with clean water can lead to numerous issues especially when it comes to developing nations.
Also, such issue as lengthy droughts can lead to problems in such spheres as arming, agriculture and fire hazards all over the world.
Water analysis is not the only responsibility of a hydrologist.
They usually help scientists that work in various fields to help them study such issues as conserving, managing, and improving quality and access to water supplies.
Also, this career is a great option for those who like traveling as hydrologists travel a lot so they can study various locations and water supplies.
Average Annual Salary: $79,550
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in Hydrology, Geosciences, Earth Science or Engineering
Environmental Scientist
An environmental scientist can be considered as one of the best career options for nature lovers.
To work in this sphere, you need to have great skills in both natural and physical sciences and complete some college program.
Your duties are to held researches and reveal issues that may influence the environment.
You should know that there is a variety of career options for those who are interested in environmental science.
For example, an environmental chemist is responsible for the analysis of chemicals and their effect on the environmental.
Such specialists can work in such spheres as contamination and pollution cleaning or management of hazardous waste.
One other option is an environmental restoration planner who usually manages pollution cleanup projects, budgets establishments, procedures, and completion steps.
As an environmental health specialist, you are going to focus on various environmental problems and how they may affect people’s health.
Speaking of industrial ecologists, they usually collaborate with those companies that may have a negative impact on the environment and help them to resolve those issues.
According to the latest data, there is a great possibility that the number of career options for environmental scientists will increase significantly in the nearest future.
If you are looking for opportunities to start your career as an environmental scientist, you may look for such options as a lab technician, field analyst or research assistant.
After you get some experience, you can apply for some higher-level jobs.
Just keep in mind that the most number of these jobs require an advanced degree.
You should know that environmental scientists are really important for revealing and resolving numerous environmental issues.
Those specialists often gather soil, plants, water, and other samples that should be tested.
Also, they may do samples’ analysis and record data gotten after tests.
All the received data are used for the identification of various ecological issues as well as for prediction of possible threats that may have an impact on the environment in the future.
Moreover, the most part of such specialists spend lots of their time working on the ecosystem cleansing.
Also, you may work with public policymakers and industry leaders in order to develop business practices and policies that may help to lower the impact on the environment.
If you want to achieve success in your career, you need to have excellent analytical, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, as well as good discipline.
It is really important if you want to be able to perform and present your researches properly, as well as make plans on ecological problems resolving.
Average Annual Salary: $67,460
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Geosciences
Agricultural Manager
Agriculture manager can for sure be considered as one of the best ‘green’ careers for those who love nature and want to work outdoors.
Usually, agriculture managers are responsible for routine activities required for running a farm.
Such specialists perform such duties as crops growing, livestock raise, agricultural management that may influence the country’s economy and food supply.
Speaking of entry-level careers, you can enroll in some hands-on farm production.
You should know that most agricultural managers tend to have an associate’s or even a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture nowadays.
Training programs usually include such classes as farm management, dairy science, plant breeding, agricultural economics and the business of agriculture.
It’s a great chance to develop your analytical, critical-thinking, and mechanical skills that are really important for your future career.
Of course, not every farming activity can be considered as ‘green’.
Considering the growing demand for organic food practice and sustainable farming practice, the bigger number of qualified agricultural managers are required.
Agricultural managers are usually responsible for the implementation of new methods and techniques because they occupy leadership roles.
Nevertheless, you should know that in most cases agricultural managers don’t perform such duties as planting, plowing, harvesting, herding and animal care tasks.
Instead, they pay more attention to some general issues that can help to make a farm successful.
It may include such points as budget operating, choosing corps and animals that should be raised on the farm.
Also, agricultural managers are responsible for new workers recruitment and training.
Average Median Salary: $64,170
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture
Landscape Architect
Working as a landscape architect, you are going to perform such duties as outdoor environment design including public parks and private gardens.
You should know that most states require licensing for landscape designers which means that the path to your career can be rather challenging.
You need to obtain a college degree but not every option will work.
To be able to work in this sphere, you need to enroll in an accredited training program in order to obtain your Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) or Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA).
It may take about 5 years but it is an obligatory requirement if you want to get a license.
During your training, you need to complete a bunch of projects including studio design works such as models and computer-aided designs.
All programs include such disciplines as landscape ecology, surveying, geology, plant and soil science, and landscape design and construction.
Also, after completing your training, you’ll be obliged to work with an experienced landscape architect so you can take the Landscape Architect Registration Examination.
You should know that the visual and aesthetical aspects of your works are important, but it is not the only point that really matters.
Your aim is not only to create some landscape decor but help the environment as well.
Numerous projects aim to improve some spaces like city areas where more plants should be added.
Those specialists decide on where plants should be added and what plants should be used.
Also, you may work on various projects that specifically aim to restore some ecosystems that have been damaged.
One significant point is that working as a landscape designer, you should be ready to perform various duties both outdoors and in office.
Of course, as a landscape architect, you are going to spend lots of time at job sites but there are some duties such as creating designs, researching and preparing papers can be done only in the office.
Average Median Salary: $63,810
Education Level: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture or Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture
Need something a bit different?
Look at our ultimate how to become a landscaper guide.
Conservation Scientist
If you want to plunge in the natural environment as much as possible, there are some careers that may interest you.
One of them is a conversation scientist.
These specialists held studies on the quality of natural resources and decide on how they can be used.
A significant part of conservation scientists works for the government and most specialists of this sphere work in various agencies that related to the government.
Just keep in mind that if you want to work in this sphere, you need to make sure that you choose your training program carefully.
Most employers give preference to those candidates who obtained a bachelor’s degree at a college accredited by the American Society of American Foresters.
All over the country, you can find only 50 programs that are suitable for those who want to become a conservation scientist.
To complete your training, you need to take coursework in biology, ecology, forest resource measurement, and computer modeling.
Certification isn’t required to become a conservation scientist but it will provide you with more opportunities and better career options.
Of course, working as a conservation manager, you are going to spend a certain period of your working time in the office.
Nevertheless, most of your working time, you are going to spend outdoors taking long walks.
Conservation scientists are responsible for the preservation of the environment and its resources.
Also, you are going to spend lots of your time working in labs where you’ll be analyzing info and create plans for various related projects.
The main duty of a conservation scientist is to preserve the environment around you.
Moreover, some conservation scientists work on the improvement of some resources and their management.
If you decide to work in this sphere, you are going to study such resources as water, soil and plant samples, and develop strategies of usage and reservation of various resources.
In case you want to work in this sphere, you can apply for such jobs as a conservation land manager, range manager, soil conservationist or water conservationist.
Average Annual Salary: $60,220
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Environmental Science or Agricultural Science
Wildlife Biologist
If you are more interested in animals than plants or other earth sciences, you should consider starting a career in wildlife biology and zoology.
Working as a wildlife biologist and zoologist, you are going to study various animals such as mammals or specific groups of animals like ocean creatures.
There are lots of educational options for those who want to enroll in this sphere and they may vary depending on the field you are interested in.
You can get some entry-level job only with a bachelor’s degree but if you want to get some higher-rate jobs you need to obtain a master’s degree.
If you want to be able to hold various independent or university researches, you need to obtain a Ph.D. and have some experience of working computer programing and statistical software.
The most part of such specialists works for state and federal governments.
Of course, not every career related to animals can be considered as green but a wildlife biologist is for sure one of them.
As a wildlife biologist, you’ll be obliged to observe animals’ life, their behavior, characteristics, and interaction with other animals.
Just keep in mind that the most part of your work will be concentrated on the protection of animals’ habitats and species preserving.
Also, these specialists are responsible for animals’ populations implementing various breeding programs and conservation plans in order to increase the populations of endangered species.
Moreover, wildlife biologists learn how human activity may influence animals’ life.
Average Annual Salary: $59,680
Education Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Degree Zoology and Wildlife Biology
These are some of the best entry-level jobs for biology majors.
Limnologist
It is possible that you’ve never heard of limnologists but this career is really rewarding.
Limnologists are scientists that are similar to marine biologists but they study animals, plants and ecosystems of freshwater environments.
You should know that the limnologist salary significantly depends on the type of work these specialists perform and where they work.
Usually, each limnologist has its own specialty and duties.
Working as a freshwater limnologist, you are going to earn about $55 100 per year.
If you study water movements, you are going to have a salary that is more similar to the hydrologist’s income.
Those who are focused on chemistry can expect an average salary of about $63 490 per year.
As you understand, limnology is a wast career field that includes such jobs as ecologists, environmental scientists, biogeochemists and various other kinds of scientists and researchers.
In most cases, such specialists are focused on conservation and environment so it’s a great option for nature lovers.
If you are a specialist that study animals life, you are going to spend lots of time outdoors.
Also, limnologists are obliged to hold numerous researches and experiments to learn various issues and ecosystems.
If you are one of those individuals that like spending time around water resources such as ponds and lakes, you’ll like your job as a limnologist and will enjoy it.
Average Annual Salary: $55,100 to $63,490
Education Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Degree in Biology or Chemistry
Wind Turbine Service Technician
There are not so many nature-friendly careers out there.
That can be considered greener than clean energy technician.
One of the great options is a wind turbine service technician that is also called a wind tech.
These professionals are responsible for the maintenance and repair of wind turbines.
Nowadays, there aren’t so many of such workers in the USA (about 4 400 workers).
Nevertheless, the BLS is sure that the number of career options for these specialists will increase in the nearest future.
In fact, it is one of the most promising fields and researchers predict 108% of the growth of this sphere.
In other words, if you have some proper training, you can find a whole variety of job offers as demand in this sphere is really big.
Lots of companies are even ready to hire tech school or community college students even before they can complete their training.
As you might have noticed, most careers in our list are science-based and even academic, but this one can be considered as an exception.
If you are interested in working with mechanisms and want to help protect the environment, you should consider becoming a wind turbine service technician.
Your responsibility may include such options as examining, repairing and maintaining the wind turbines.
You just need to know that this career is really hard and challenging because all these constructions are huge and you’ll be obliged to spend lots of your time on their tops.
It means that you also should know and preserve safety rules to keep your life safe.
Average Annual Salary: $51,050
Education Level: Associate’s Degree in Wind Energy Technology
Recycling Coordinator
If you one of those people who pay much attention to the recycling issues, you should consider becoming a recycling coordinator.
These specialists analyze recycling procedures and make sure that all recyclable trash is sorted out and transformed into something new properly.
Normally, they create schedules of recyclables collection, plan routes for trash pickup, manage employers responsible for recycling.
Workes in this sphere can have a good income but it may vary from $30 000 to $100 000 per year depending on various issues.
Your salary will depend on your experience, type of program you manage, and others.
Moreover, this career can be really rewarding bot only in a financial way as you can protect the environment around you.
Recycling coordinators are really important for environmental protection issues.
Their main responsibility is to make sure that all recycling efforts give results and allow to protect the environment.
It’s not enough to collect and sort out the recyclables but it is important to make sure that they are really transformed into something new and it doesn’t influence the world around.
Also, recycling managers are responsible for public connections so people can learn how everything is done and how it can influence the environment.
In order to work as a recycling manager, you need to be passionate about your work, have excellent communication skills, and be experienced in data management and administration.
Just keep in mind that a bachelor’s degree is required for this career.
In some cases, you may be obliged to obtain a certification or work experience in manufacturing, education, waste management or the government.
Average Annual Salary: $30,000s to $100,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Education or Environmental Resources Management
Conclusion
Some of these jobs exist for many years while others are relatively new and continue developing constantly.
If you are interested in an environmental-friendly career, you can find lots of great options.
In any choice, career choice is an important issue so you need to make sure that you think everything over properly.
Take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of each career option.
The list in this article is only a guide you can start with but you may look for some other green careers
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of scientist is a hydrologist?
A hydrologist is a scientist who studies water and its movements all around the planet, from creeks to oceans.
Some consider hydrologists geoscientists because they are working closely with geology and geophysics.
They could be called environmental scientists because a lot of their work is used to inform governmental agencies about climate change and other climate issues.
What subjects are needed to become a hydrologist?
Almost any class related to the study of water would be good for a hydrologist.
It would include aquatic biology, oceanography, meteorology, and of course hydrology.
Additionally, a hydrology student should study physical sciences, engineering, chemistry, calculus, and physics.
Since hydrologists study water over the entire world, anything related to any body of water should be of interest.
What does a wildlife biologist do daily?
Wildlife biologists study animals in their natural areas to understand the overall environment.
They may be out looking for those animals.
They are concerned with habitat, care, and planning that will impact animals, and ultimately humans as well.
They may have to go to remote areas to do this study.
Who is a famous wildlife biologist?
The most famous wildlife biologist alive today is David Attenborough.
He is a zoologist primarily, and his work with BBC on a natural history documentary is what made him famous.
The documentary is the result of Attenborough’s study of plant and animal life over his career.
He has been a voice for radical change to reverse global warming.
What level is a coordinator?
A recycling coordinator could be considered a management-level job.
They are responsible for running the recycling operation and are also responsible for how some things are recycled.
This will often include coordinating the collection of trash and getting it to the recycling facility.
They may work for government agencies or for private operations.
What are the duties of a recycling coordinator?
A recycling coordinator runs a recycling operation in almost every aspect.
He or she works to inform the community about recycling and works on the programs to educate people, and to make the recycling operation work.
They supervise the collection and sorting of trash into recycling areas.
They may also work toward the recycling itself, making sure their operation does what it is intended to do.