Maybe you feel strongly about protecting the environment.
You might even participate inEarth Daycleanups and other volunteer activities.
Wherever you work and whatever your specific tasks, youll develop solutions to environmental problems.
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Themedian annual wage for environmental engineersis $84,890, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Youll need a bachelors degree in environmental engineering or a related field, like chemical or general engineering.
You might also require licensing for some specialties.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
You need about five years of experience to land this job.
Hydrologist
In this role, you might visit lakes and rivers to take water samples or inspect monitoring equipment.
But youll spend much of your time in an office, analyzing data and making predictive models.
Generally youll work to solve problems of water quality and availability.
Did you know?
Sustainability Director
The majority of Sustainability Directors claim high levels of job satisfaction,says Payscale.
Its not difficult to see why.
The median annual income of sustainability directors is more than $108,000, and good benefits are the norm.
Often youll need a masters degree in engineering or architecture.
With or without the degree, to make it a green job, you needLEED accreditation.
Payscale.com surveyed 478 salaries for construction project managers who are LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP).
Theannual salariesranged from $65,000 to $156,354.
As an HVAC engineer you design those systems and oversee installation.
You may need to be licensed for some positions.
The median annual wage for hazmat workers is $40,640
7.
Most of the job postings do not mention wages, but its clear you wont need a college degree.
However, you may need a year of roofing experience, according to many job postings.
A Solar Energy System Installer earns an average wage of $15.72 per hour,says Payscale.
If you work full-time, that works out to $32,698 a year.
More Green Jobs
Some jobs are not normally green, but could be.
For example,green burials are becoming more popular.
Many of the best green jobs require a bachelors degree, or even a masters degree.
But even if you haveadegree, it may not be one that qualifies you for these positions.
And even the jobs you’re able to get with a high school diploma often require some experience.
So what can you do if you have no relevant experience or qualifications?
For example, there is theU.S.
EPA Environmental Workforce Development & Job Training Program, run by Florida State College and the City of Jacksonville.
Your Turn: Would you like to make a living helping to protect our environment?
If you have a green job thats not on the list, wed love to hear about it!
Steve Gillman is the author of 101 Weird Ways to Make Money and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com.
It sounds appealing right?
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