If you are looking for a job that will make a difference, consider pursuing a career in the sustainability field. Sustainable and green living aren’t just buzzwords. Sustainability has become a fundamental part of society and impacts every facet of life. These jobs involve cultivating a balance in the environment by encouraging sustainable practices such as reducing pollution, and waste, and conserving natural resources.
You can always make a difference in any environment you work in with eco-friendly practices, but to ultimately make a difference while you make a living, here are the top careers to consider.
Environmental Engineer
An environmental engineer conducts projects to promote solutions to problems caused by systems such as water treatment, waste disposal, recycling, building, pollution control, and more. Settings they work in vary according to projects giving them a chance to impact society in various ways.
Environmental engineers use their knowledge and expertise in chemistry, biology, and environmental science to remediate potential environmental hazards. For example, they may create solutions and treatments for problems arising from air and water pollution.
A prerequisite for this sustainable job is a degree in chemical, civil, general, or environmental engineering. The average salary is $72,000 annually.
Air Quality Engineer
An air quality engineer’s job is to improve the quality of the air we breathe. They must assess and manage levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants that impact the health of people inhabiting indoor and outdoor spaces. They must conduct tests to analyze the air and identify and measure toxins. They are trained to use highly technical monitoring processes such as 3-D computer modeling and chemical and statistical analysis. They work on projects such as designing equipment to control pollution in large cities or optimizing ventilation in buildings.
An air quality engineer may work for the government or a corporation. These jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree. More opportunities can be found with a Master of Science in engineering. Their average salary is 82,900.
Urban Planner
This fascinating career may involve constructing an entire community from roads and buildings to parks and encouraging green spaces and urban farming. Other titles for this job are regional planner and municipal planner. Urban planners can help growers produce crops in heavily populated areas to provide a food system for a massive population. As cities grow and open land becomes less scarce, urban planning is a field that will grow in importance in the future. It is already one of the fastest-growing career fields.
Urban planning is a job that both the agriculturalists and the activists will find very rewarding. They help fight food deserts and teach individuals, companies, and organizations how to best use the land. An M.S. degree in urban ecology and sustainable planning is recommended. The average salary is $73,050.
Landscape Architect
Landscape architect is the perfect job for those interested in urban planning, architecture, or design. It combines the skills of environmental science and land planning to create and build outdoor areas such as parks, urban green spaces, and wildlife habitats. They must possess skills in surveying the natural geography and terrain of the land for recreational planning.
The projects landscape artists design must make outdoor spaces beautiful and functional as well as supportive of the natural environment. This may include residential developments, parks, landmarks, school campuses, and more. Their time is spent doing tasks in an office and visiting physical sites to assess factors such as vegetation, soil types, and elevation.
This job requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture. The average salary is $79,320.
Marine Conservationist
This fast-growing field is also expanding in importance as society realizes the need to protect and preserve the oceans’ ecosystems and counteract the exploitation of their resources. This job doesn’t necessarily require a degree in marine biology, but it helps to have a strong background in science, a degree in a similar field, or relevant work experience. This includes research, fundraising, grant writing, and IT specialists.
Jobs in this field can be found in educational institutes, and conservation and political organizations. The salary is commensurate with degrees, and certifications such as scuba diving. Volunteer experience counts.
Wildlife Biologist
This is the perfect career for the lover of animals. Wildlife biologists study animals from their behavior to their habitats and how they interact with the natural environment and ecosystem. They conduct studies and engage in fieldwork that includes quantitative work such as tracking population and data analysis. They may do much of their work inside a lab conducting specific research and publishing reviews.
The wildlife biologist has a chance to be an advocate for the well-being of animals and advise against policies and commercial projects that may harm their habitats. This job requires a Master’s in wildlife management, fisheries management, or a related field. A wildlife technician can find work with an Associate’s degree in a related field. The average salary is 70,600 for a Bachelor’s degree.
Energy manager
The role of this job is, as stated in the title, to manage energy. They do this by developing and implementing energy-efficient systems and strategies to reduce the consumption of resources as well as costs. By performing audits, they make sure environmental and financial resources are used efficiently in businesses and industries.
Energy managers often research clean energy technologies and make recommendations. They help in the development of city and government projects to manage energy consumption.
Educational requirements for this job vary. Some positions require a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an institution that has an ABET-accredited program. Others may require HVAC professional certification with installation experience. Salaries for certified energy management positions range between 66,000 and 130,000.
If you are looking for a job that will make a difference, consider pursuing a career in the sustainability field. Sustainable and green living aren’t just buzzwords. Sustainability has become a fundamental part of society and impacts every facet of life. These jobs involve cultivating a balance in the environment by encouraging sustainable practices such as reducing pollution, and waste, and conserving natural resources.
You can always make a difference in any environment you work in with eco-friendly practices, but to ultimately make a difference while you make a living, here are the top careers to consider.
Environmental Engineer
An environmental engineer conducts projects to promote solutions to problems caused by systems such as water treatment, waste disposal, recycling, building, pollution control, and more. Settings they work in vary according to projects giving them a chance to impact society in various ways.
Environmental engineers use their knowledge and expertise in chemistry, biology, and environmental science to remediate potential environmental hazards. For example, they may create solutions and treatments for problems arising from air and water pollution.
A prerequisite for this sustainable job is a degree in chemical, civil, general, or environmental engineering. The average salary is $72,000 annually.
Air Quality Engineer
An air quality engineer’s job is to improve the quality of the air we breathe. They must assess and manage levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants that impact the health of people inhabiting indoor and outdoor spaces. They must conduct tests to analyze the air and identify and measure toxins. They are trained to use highly technical monitoring processes such as 3-D computer modeling and chemical and statistical analysis. They work on projects such as designing equipment to control pollution in large cities or optimizing ventilation in buildings.
An air quality engineer may work for the government or a corporation. These jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree. More opportunities can be found with a Master of Science in engineering. Their average salary is 82,900.
Urban Planner
This fascinating career may involve constructing an entire community from roads and buildings to parks and encouraging green spaces and urban farming. Other titles for this job are regional planner and municipal planner. Urban planners can help growers produce crops in heavily populated areas to provide a food system for a massive population. As cities grow and open land becomes less scarce, urban planning is a field that will grow in importance in the future. It is already one of the fastest-growing career fields.
Urban planning is a job that both the agriculturalists and the activists will find very rewarding. They help fight food deserts and teach individuals, companies, and organizations how to best use the land. An M.S. degree in urban ecology and sustainable planning is recommended. The average salary is $73,050.
Landscape Architect
Landscape architect is the perfect job for those interested in urban planning, architecture, or design. It combines the skills of environmental science and land planning to create and build outdoor areas such as parks, urban green spaces, and wildlife habitats. They must possess skills in surveying the natural geography and terrain of the land for recreational planning.
The projects landscape artists design must make outdoor spaces beautiful and functional as well as supportive of the natural environment. This may include residential developments, parks, landmarks, school campuses, and more. Their time is spent doing tasks in an office and visiting physical sites to assess factors such as vegetation, soil types, and elevation.
This job requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture. The average salary is $79,320.
Marine Conservationist
This fast-growing field is also expanding in importance as society realizes the need to protect and preserve the oceans’ ecosystems and counteract the exploitation of their resources. This job doesn’t necessarily require a degree in marine biology, but it helps to have a strong background in science, a degree in a similar field, or relevant work experience. This includes research, fundraising, grant writing, and IT specialists.
Jobs in this field can be found in educational institutes, and conservation and political organizations. The salary is commensurate with degrees, and certifications such as scuba diving. Volunteer experience counts.
Wildlife Biologist
This is the perfect career for the lover of animals. Wildlife biologists study animals from their behavior to their habitats and how they interact with the natural environment and ecosystem. They conduct studies and engage in fieldwork that includes quantitative work such as tracking population and data analysis. They may do much of their work inside a lab conducting specific research and publishing reviews.
The wildlife biologist has a chance to be an advocate for the well-being of animals and advise against policies and commercial projects that may harm their habitats. This job requires a Master’s in wildlife management, fisheries management, or a related field. A wildlife technician can find work with an Associate’s degree in a related field. The average salary is 70,600 for a Bachelor’s degree.
Energy manager
The role of this job is, as stated in the title, to manage energy. They do this by developing and implementing energy-efficient systems and strategies to reduce the consumption of resources as well as costs. By performing audits, they make sure environmental and financial resources are used efficiently in businesses and industries.
Energy managers often research clean energy technologies and make recommendations. They help in the development of city and government projects to manage energy consumption.
Educational requirements for this job vary. Some positions require a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an institution that has an ABET-accredited program. Others may require HVAC professional certification with installation experience. Salaries for certified energy management positions range between 66,000 and 130,000.
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