The Guide To Starting A Green Career
Since many green careers are up and coming, it’s possible you have an inkling of an idea of what exactly a green career is. Basically, these careers are striving to conserve energy, develop alternative options for energy, reduce pollution and are focused on recycling. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has even predicted some green industries are about to see some significant job growth within the next couple of years.
This guide has been put together to help you figure out how to save the world while earning a paycheck.
Industries Within the Green Space
The green industry is on the rise as more and more people are finding ways in which they can preserve nature and the planet. Making this your job is a way many are “killing two birds with one stone.” As a starting point, we’ve compiled a list of green industries, as well as the careers you might find within each.
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Renewable Energy
When you think of this industry you probably think coal, oil, gas and nuclear. These are the more traditional energy resources, but what may surprise are the “new” resources the world is starting to turn to which include solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. The career possibilities within this industry are unlimited, but the three most popular positions include:
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Energy Trading/Storage
Just as goods and services are traded around the world, resources are a big commodity to most. Energy and carbon emissions can be stored in places like power plants. Three well-known jobs in this industry are:
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Environmental Protection and Agriculture
A lot of people associate “green” with agriculture and farming. But it’s so much more than that. These jobs involve adapting to climate change and protecting air quality:
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Green Construction/Manufacturing
As more and more people realize how important protecting nature is, they’ve begun integrating a high level of sustainability through the construction products they’re using. Whether it’s your home or your workplace, this industry is booming and typically calls for:
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Transportation
This industry is slowly, but surely, coming around the mountain when it comes to career growth. In this industry, many are working hard to find solutions that would make everything from public transportation to automobiles more environmentally friendly. These jobs include:
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Recycling/Waste Reduction
When we say recycling and waste reduction, we mean more than just separating your trash. This industry includes everything from disposing of waste properly to developing biosolids. Some jobs you might find here include:
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Government/Regulatory Administration
This is where some major changes can be made. We’re talking writing laws and regulations, as well as ensuring companies are in compliance with such. You might find yourself in one of these positions:
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Research/Design/Consulting Services
This is a nice blanket industry to cover all jobs within the green sector. The majority of workers in this industry are either self-employed or work on a contractual basis. This industry includes these job positions:
Careers
Although we listed many career options above, we wanted to include a closer look at the positions expected to experience the most growth by 2026.
Solar photovoltaic installers make an average salary of $39,490 and are expected to grow 104.42%.
Wind turbine service technicians’ median salary is $53,880 with a projected 94.83% growth rate.
Hazardous materials removal workers are only expected to grow 17.10%, but make $41,400 on average each year.
Environmental engineering technicians are projected to grow 12.35% and are paid roughly $50,230 a year.
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health, average an annual salary of $45,490 and is projected to grow 12.14%.
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health, are only projected to grow 11.06%, but their median annual wage is $69,400.
Environmental Engineers make an average of $86,800 a year, but are only expected to grow 8.36%.
Conservation scientists average about $61,480 each year and are expected to grow 6.28%.
Green Collar Companies
It’s likely you’ve heard of blue-collar workers, but have you heard of green-collar jobs? These jobs are dedicated to improving the environment by reducing waste and pollution. In addition to jobs, this term can also apply to companies that are going to the extra mile to keeping our planet clean and safe. We compiled a list of these green-collar companies that are great to work for if you’re looking for a green career:
What Type Of Education Is Required For A Green Job?
When it comes to searching for a green job, you’ll probably want to find the best education first. The good news is that you have plenty of options to choose from. If you want to go to school for a short period, or if you’re in it for the long haul, you won’t be short-changed for choosing a career that is dedicated to saving the world.
While some green careers only require an associate degree or vocational training program, other careers can be found through post-doctoral specialized training. It really just depends on what kind of student you are. If college is the route you want to take for your green career, you should have a plan in mind. You need to be aware of where you’d like to end up and what you want to get out of your educational experience.
It may be best to determine your plan by figuring out what your passion is. Take some time to evaluate what your strengths and weaknesses are. Then search for what kind of impact you’re hoping your career will have on Earth. It may even do you some good to speak with environmental professionals on what they do on a day-by-day basis. If you go the college route, you’ll probably need to decide what major fits into your passion, which leads us to what the best green majors are.
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Agriculture covers a lot of areas. All of the bases around producing the sustainability of healthy foods are covered under this umbrella. Within it, you’ll find lots of opportunities and specific degrees that may fit right into your passion. Some of the degrees within Agriculture include:
Sustainable Agriculture Systems
Agroecology
Ecogastronomy
Soils
Entomology
Plant Pathology
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Biology is another great degree to consider. It provides insight into a better scientific understanding of nature. You might even consider Environmental Chemistry if you’re into the science of nature.
A lot of people associate “green” with agriculture and farming. But it’s so much more than that. These jobs involve adapting to climate change and protecting air quality:
Farm Manager
Fish and Game Warden
Agricultural Inspector
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Environmental Law is yet another direction you may be able to take your career. If you’re interested in taking a stand for Mother Nature and fighting for the little guys, this might be perfect.
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Renewable Energy Management might be for you if you’re interested in monitoring technology of solar, wind or hydraulic power.
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Waste Management, while it’s not a glamorous job or educational topic is essential when we talk about green careers. Now we’re not necessarily referencing a refuse collector. This degree could lead to anything from hazardous waste to water pollution.
Green Scholarships
Now that you have an educational plan with somewhat of an end goal in mind, you need to figure out how to pay for that education. That’s where scholarships are super helpful. The best part is that there are lots of scholarships out there that are devoted to funding your green education. You just have to find them. Lucky for you, we have a long list of green scholarships to get you started.
Green Internships
It’s likely you understand the importance of obtaining an internship before securing a career. Not only does it give you a leg up for when you graduate, but it also helps you focus on what you’re looking for exactly in your career. From pay to benefits to the day-to-day stuff, an internship is a great opportunity to have all of your questions answered before you commit to a long-term career. Some great companies to look into for internships include:
ACORE
DTE Energy
Advanced Energy Industries
Eos Energy Storage
White House Council on Environment Quality
Ceres
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Lake Flato Architects
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Renewable Northwest
Research Participant Program Internships
The Student Conservation Association
Summer Internship Program
Sustainable Farming Internship Program
Tesla Motors
Turner Construction Company
Many of these companies are larger or well-known organizations so they may not be readily available for you to intern at, or even feasible. You may try looking to the Green Jobs Network or Green Biz in order to find some local internships.
The Best Cities to Start Your Green Career
While you may assume the best place to start your career would be on a small farm out in the middle of nowhere, that’s actually not true. In a bigger city, you’ll have more opportunities to have a bigger impact on the environment, so we’ve laid out a list of the top cities for green careers. The list includes:
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