Green Jobs

Choose a Career That Helps The Environment

Take your passion for the environment, add to it the required training and you could have a green job in the not too distant future. Green jobs are those jobs that help the environment. Those working in green jobs protect the environment from further damage or work to repair the damage that has already been done. The Stimulus Package (officially called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), introduced by President Barack Obama and passed by Congress in 2009, is expected to create millions of green jobs. Here are some examples of green jobs:

Urban or Regional Planner

Urban or regional planners help communities decide how to best use their land and resources with an eye toward future growth and revitalization. Generally, to work as an urban or regional planner, one must have a master's degree in urban or regional planning from an accredited program. Urban and regional planners earned a median annual salary of $57,970 in 2007.
Learn More About Becoming an Urban and Regional Planner

Conservationist

Conservationists work with landowners and governments to protect natural resources including soil and water. The minimum requirement to work as a conservationist is a bachelor's degree in ecology, natural resource management, agriculture, biology or environmental science. In 2007 conservationists had median annual earnings of $56,150.
Learn More About Becoming a Conservationist

Environmental Technician

Environmental technicians, working under the direction of environmental scientists, monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution by performing laboratory and field tests. Most jobs require an associate degree or certificate in applied science or science related technology. In 2007, environmental technicians earned a median annual salary of $39,370.
Learn More About Becoming an Environmental Technician

Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists conduct research in order to identify, abate or eliminate pollutants and hazards to the environment or to the health of the population. Most employers prefer to hire job candidates who have a master's degree in environmental science, hydrology or a related natural science. Environmental scientists earned a median annual salary of $58,380 in 2007.
Learn More About Becoming an Environmental Scientist

Geoscientist

Geoscientists study the earth, including its composition, structure and other physical aspects. Some help environmental scientists clean up and preserve the environment. One must have a master's degree in geology or earth science to work as a geoscientist. Geoscientists earned a median annual salary of $75,800 in 2007.
Learn More About Becoming a Geoscientist

Landscape Architect

Landscape architects design residential areas, parks, shopping centers, parkways, golf courses and school campuses in order to make them beautiful, functional and compatible with the natural environment. To practice as a landscape architect, one must have a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) or a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA). Landscape architects earned a median annual salary of $57,580 in 2007.
Learn More About Becoming a Landscape Architect

^{Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/.
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. O*NET Online.}