These careers play a role in environmental remediation, climate change adaptation, and enhancing air quality.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
$158100
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Natural Sciences Managers
plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
$154930
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Water Resource Specialists
design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
$154930
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Environmental Economists
conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.
$120880
Doctoral degree
Strong job growth
Geoscientists
study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
$112110
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Construction Managers
plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
$107260
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists
plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.
$107260
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Personality Match
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
$100550
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
Environmental Engineers
research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
$96890
Master's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Water/Wastewater Engineers
design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.
$96890
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Hydrologists
research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
$90150
Master's degree
Strong job growth
Industrial Ecologists
apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.
$80090
Master's degree
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Health Environmental Scientists
conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
$80090
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Climate Change Analysts
research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.
$80090
Master's degree
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Environmental Restoration Planners
collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.
$80090
Master's degree
Strong job growth
Landscape Architects
plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
$75440
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Soil and Plant Scientists
conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.
$73040
Doctoral degree
PR Specialists
promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
$71940
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.
$70510
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Soil and Water Conservationists
plan or develop coordinated practices for soil erosion control, soil or water conservation, or sound land use.
$69020
Bachelor's degree
Reporters
collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.
$66000
Bachelor's degree
Fish and Game Wardens
patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
$57810
Bachelor's degree
High job satisfaction
Environmental Engineering Technicians
apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
$56570
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Farm and Home Management Advisors
instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
$54870
Master's degree
Strong job growth
High job satisfaction
Supervisors of Logging Workers
directly supervise and coordinate activities of logging workers.
$54420
No degree required
Personality Match
Environmental Protection Technicians
perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
$50960
Bachelor's degree
Strong job growth
Hazmat Removal Workers
identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
$49170
No degree required
Strong job growth
General Maintenance and Repair Workers
perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
$43790
No degree required
Strong job growth
Personality Match
Forest and Conservation Technicians
provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts, under the direction of foresters; or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation, fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.
$42780
No degree required
Forest and Conservation Workers
under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
$33520
Bachelor's degree