Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, environmental services is a great career path. Society as a whole is becoming more and more concerned with conservation, sustainability, and the environmental impact of our actions. This means that the government, businesses, and universities are interested in the field, resulting in more roles.
As technology advances, there is still going to be concern about the impact and sustainability of new technologies and techniques, meaning that the field of environmental services is unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon. And even as some of the measurements become automated, there will still need to be people to interpret the data and educate others on what it means.
Environmental services is a complex field involving lots of different factors. That means that there are many different paths you can take in this career field, depending on what interests you and your specialty.
10 of the Best Paying Jobs in Environmental Services
Like most career paths, more education tends to lead to better pay. Most of the jobs in environmental services are going to require some education, as it’s a complex field. A lot of it is tied into sustainability, husbandry, and understanding of the natural world.
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Average Annual Salary: $55,000
Environmental scientists collect, analyze, and research the environment. Samples are taken from the soil, air, and water to track pollutants and contamination. Their research helps come up with ways to minimize hazards and in the creation of policies to control contaminants.
This position is typically either in an office or laboratory. It requires attention to detail, analytical thinking, and good communication skills.
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Average Annual Salary: $87,000
This position has several different responsibilities, including managing drinking water, flood control, and dealing with wastewater. It requires problem-solving skills, as well as being a good communicator, as not only do you have to come up with solutions, but you have to get them approved by the requisite local and government agencies.
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Average Annual Salary: $82,000
Marine scientists study oceanology, which focuses on marine environments and the organisms that reside there. As the ocean covers roughly 70% of the plant’s surface, it’s extremely important for understanding climate and habitats. Marine scientists can study fish, undersea plants, coral, and other marine life.
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Average Annual Salary: $82,000
While being focused on generating energy may not seem directly related to environmental services, a not insignificant part of an energy engineer’s job is to consider the environmental impact.
Many energy engineers are also focused on green and renewable energy sources and what effect those may have on the planet. The majority of those in this role work in the field, meaning that your hours may be irregular. It also requires working with contractors, cleaving to a budget, and staying current with technological advances.
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Average Annual Salary: $63,000
Environmental planners’ job is in many ways similar to urban planners, except that they have a different focus. As the name indicates, environmental planners consider the environmental impact and effects of a project and ways to mitigate them.
It’s also their responsibility to make sure that projects comply with environmental rules and regulations and meet sustainability goals.
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Average Annual Salary: $70,000
Also called climatologists, climate change analysts study the climate. Their current focus is dealing with climate change and working through data to prove both its effect and come up with ways to mitigate it.
They use the gathered data to generate policy solutions and goals to reduce emissions and other activities that greatly alter the world’s climate. This is a highly mentally demanding job that generally requires a Master’s degree to attain.
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Average Annual Salary: $74,000
Environmental attorneys are lawyers that specialize in environmental law. They can either work for a business by helping them navigate the myriad environmental laws and regulations or represent those hurt by the violation of such laws.
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
Naturalists study nature in all its forms. Their main focus is studying organisms and ecosystems, recording how different living things interact with and affect one another. They also help with conservation and educate the public on their findings. This job requires a strong foundation in biology, ecosystems, and fieldwork.
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Average Annual Salary: $60,000
Someone in this role is often employed by a business. A sustainability consultant’s main job is to be an expert on the environment and sustainable practices and advise businesses on how best to implement them.
Most sustainability consultants are an expert in a particular field, as the environmental requirements and impacts differ from industry to industry. Their job ranges from public relations to tax rebates to making sure a certain industry is sustainable.
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Average Annual Salary: $69,000
Environmental engineers’ main task is solving environmental issues. They often focus on pollution and the use of natural resources. Sustainability is the goal, so they try to come up with solutions where the planet’s natural resources can be utilized without harming the environment.
This job requires a mix of knowledge of biology, ecology, engineering, and chemistry.
All the above jobs require higher levels of education and experience. So if you’re just looking to get started in the industry, the below list is a good place to start.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Environmental Services
Environmental services is a difficult field to get into with a four-year college degree. There are a few jobs you can get with a high school diploma or an associate’s degree, but if you’re interested in the higher-earning positions, you’re going to need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Environmental assistants help environmental scientists with their studies. They’re responsible for sample collection and analysis, as well as writing reports.
Duties also include helping with fieldwork and writing up proposals for policies and new techniques to aid the environment. This is an excellent way to gather experience and learn skills to help advance your career.
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Average Annual Salary: $55,000
This is a specialized firefighting position. Forest firefighters are experts on forest fires and the best way to contain and extinguish them. They are also expected to be well versed in fire prevention and the conditions under which forest fires are most likely to occur so as to help them prepare in case a fire breaks out.
Most firefighters are also trained in first aid and other emergency management skills.
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Environmental Field Technician
Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Environmental field technicians do a lot of fieldwork. They test water, soil, and air to check for pollutants. It requires being familiar with testing equipment, such as water pumps, air sampling monitors, and microscopes.
Compiling reports is a large part of their duties as well, so you have to be comfortable with paperwork. They can be employed by government agencies, companies, or firms.
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Average Annual Salary: $43,000
Water technicians work with machinery in a water treatment plant. They’re responsible for the equipment’s upkeep as well as ascertaining that it’s working properly. Water technicians take water samples to make sure that the water’s being properly processed, as well as adjusting the mineral and chemical content of the water, as applicable.
They also need to be experts in water quality regulations and have strong attention to detail.
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Average Annual Salary: $46,000
Despite the title, environmental educators don’t directly teach. Their job is more in line with raising awareness and getting the word out. They will create displays, brochures, and handouts for the public to promote conservation and sustainability practices.
This job requires a lot of interaction with the public in terms of working with community groups, schools, and businesses to raise awareness and train people on environmental issues.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Like most technician positions, a conservation technician’s duties are hands-on. They do work to help with conservation projects, be it land, sea, or air.
Duties include making maps, recording information about territories that are selected for conservation efforts, and walking the area to make sure everything is as it should be. A lot of their work involves data collection and monitoring of the conservation area.
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Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Park rangers work for the government. Their duties vary between conservation of the park they’re responsible for and aiding visitors and members of the public. They make sure that rules and regulations are followed, as well as help out any visitors that might be injured or lost.
They’re the first responders in national parks and have to deal with complaints, emergencies, and other incidents, as well as filing the appropriate reports.
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Average Annual Salary: $64,000
If you love forests and other natural environments, then this could be the job for you. Foresters are responsible for caring for and safeguarding forests. They plant trees, collect data on the area, and keep track of when trees are ready for harvest.
Depending on the breadth of their duties, they may also monitor the local wildlife population and help out in an emergency – such as if a hiker goes missing or is injured.
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Average Annual Salary: $32,000
Forestry technicians’ main duties are in conservation. They collect and analyze samples to look for any threats to the forest they’re responsible for.
Raising public awareness of environmental conservation is a large part of their job as well. It’s a position that requires a lot of time spent outdoors and coordination with other departments, such as fire and police.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Wildlife technicians study wildlife and manage their populations. Their skill sets are mainly utilized in wildlife reserves, but they can work in hatcheries, fisheries, and parks. Most of their time is spent aiding biologists and other wildlife experts, and, being a technician position, the job requires a lot of fieldwork.
The majority of the above positions require a bachelor’s degree, but you should be able to get into them out of college if you meet the education requirements. These jobs can serve as excellent careers in their own right or as a way to gather experience and advance your career.
Why Choose a Career in Environmental Services?
There are several different career paths you can follow in environmental services, depending on your interests. However, there are several different attributes that will serve you well if you choose to pursue a career in this field.
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You like being outdoors. Not every job listed here is going to require spending a lot of time outside, but most of them require fieldwork, and several are majority outdoors careers. If you like being outdoors, then this will be right in your wheelhouse.
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The environment is important to you. This field is about making sure that the environment is preserved and resources are used in a sustainable way. Being passionate about your job makes it more rewarding.
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You’re interested in the natural world. Environmental services are about conservation, sustainability, and the study of the natural world. If you’re interested in nature, then learning about it and working in the field will be easier for you.
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Science appeals to you. Much of environmental services require an understanding of some form of science, be it biology, ecology, chemistry, or oceanography. If science interests you and doesn’t intimidate you, then this career path will be better suited to you.
Of course, the study of the environment is more varied and complicated than could be listed in this article, so there are many more specialties to be had. Still, the above list is a good basic check to make sure that this career field would be good for you.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Environmental Services
Higher education is a requirement for almost every job listed here. And even the one where it’s not required, it’s recommended. So, the best thing you can do for a career in this field is to get a college degree. If you’re interested in following a career path in environmental services, here are some majors to consider.
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Biology. This is an excellent major choice for this field. There are several different specialists you can choose from as well, such as ecology.
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Chemistry. A lot of testing is involved in monitoring the environment. Chemistry forms the building blocks of the world, so it helps in both understanding the tests and being familiar with the different chemicals and why they’re problematic – or not.
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Forestry. This is the science of creating, maintaining, and rebuilding forests and wooded areas. Forestry involves conservation and understanding of habitats and ecology.
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Environmental Science. This is another excellent general choice. Environmental sciences cover conservation, sustainability, and ecosystems.
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Wildlife Management. This is excellent if you want to be a wildlife technician or naturalist, but many of the jobs here would benefit from it.
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Engineering. This is a genetic degree to get you into engineering. It’s also possible to specialize.
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Environmental Engineering. If you want to be an environmental engineer.
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Marine Sciences. If you want to be a marine scientist.
Certifications aren’t required for most jobs here, though there are conservation and environmental certifications you can get to help your career. However, there are a few things to consider for specific jobs.
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An environmental attorney needs to be licensed to practice law. This means having the requisite education and passing the bar.
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It’s heavily recommended to be EMT certified to be a firefighter.
What Do People Working In Environmental Services Do?
People who work in environmental services prioritize conservation and the environment. There are several aspects to this: direct conservation and sustainability efforts, educating the public and businesses on environmental impact, and coming up with energy generation, business practices, and regulations to help the environment.
You can get a job studying the natural world to better understand how it works and how our actions affect it. Or you can work to recommend better practices for businesses to take and individuals to lobby for. It’s also possible to work directly to come up with better solutions and consider their potential impact on the natural world.
Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
