Environmental Careers: 11 Most In-Demand "Green" Jobs in 2023
Global warming. Lingering toxic chemicals. The loss of irreplaceable habitats. Environmental news can often seem grim and dour, offering little hope for the future. But don’t think that the end is near! Environmental professionals are stepping up to the challenge, and green jobs have begun to do something that once seemed impossible: save the planet and provide workers with a handsome living. You don’t have to take our word for it. Bloomberg reported that “the world spent a record $501.3 billion in 2020 on renewable power, electric vehicles and other technologies to cut the global energy system’s dependence on fossil fuels.”
In this post, we will list and discuss 11 green jobs of the future, environmental careers in demand, and the fastest growing green jobs. Who knows? You might even find your first green job or a new role in an industry you’ve long served.
Air Quality Engineer
If you’re looking for jobs that help the environment without degrees, then you’ll want to consider options other than air quality engineer. This particular position generally requires a bachelor’s degree at a minimum with a focus on environmental engineering, and potential employers look kindly on completed internships. That’s not an inconsequential amount of personal investment, but it more than makes up for it with its compensation. (Salaries roughly range from $70,000 to $143,000.) Air quality engineers focus on maintaining clear indoor air quality or in remediating contaminated sites. Related tasks may include completing statistical modeling and ensuring that businesses comply with governmental regulations.
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSOs)
You’ve doubtlessly noticed that corporations and consumers alike have started clamoring for more environmentally friendly products and practices. That desire raises a question, though: How can big companies best achieve that? Enter the Chief Sustainability Officer, an executive-level position and one of the highest paying environmental jobs. This position requires years of experience and isn’t an entry-level position. But given that CSOs help set corporate policy, it may be one of the most consequential. "Regulators and investors are asking for it, customers are demanding it, and employees are expecting it," Harvard Business School associate professor George Serafeim explained to Forbes. "Once you reach a point where a customer says, 'What are your policies in terms of your supply chain operations?' you better have a good handle on that."
Conservation Scientists
Though conservation scientists sound like generalists, they are one of the green job examples that has a very specific function and skillset. Rather than ensconcing themselves in laboratories, factories, or offices, they work largely outdoors. Their tasks typically include:
- Managing forests, including national parks
- Protecting at-risk habitats
- Consulting with private landowners and local governments
- Monitoring clear-cut forest land to ensure ongoing sustainability
- Assessing soil quality
Working as a conservation scientist typically requires a bachelor’s degree. Most people interested in the field focus on agricultural science, environmental science, or forestry.
Energy Analyst
Energy analysts work in exactly that opposite manner as conservation scientists — but their contributions are every bit as important. These environmental professionals monitor energy markets, track energy data, make efficiency projections, and offer recommendations based on those projections. While most energy analysts have a bachelor’s degree, this is one of those jobs that helps the environment without a degree, at least as long as you demonstrate proficiency with technical programs such as Excel, Microsoft Access, and Visual Basic for Applications.
Environmental Consultant
Unlike other green jobs examples listed in this post, environmental consultants function as generalists. This investigative career can fit well with any number of fields. Why? Environmental consultants marry scientific knowledge with an awareness of the regulatory landscape to perform tasks such as:
- Identifying water, air, and/or land contamination
- Advising about waste-management policies
- Conducting environmental audits
- Managing regulatory concerns
- Collecting and interpreting data relevant to the situation
- Assisting with the implementation of green building practices
- Providing guidance related to human health and safety
- Managing sustainability initiatives
- Identifying sources of contamination
Geoscientist
Geoscientists are highly educated (usually with a master's degree) and conduct primary research that’s disseminated to other professionals, used by private companies, or received by governmental entities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, geoscientists perform the following tasks:
- “Plan and carry out field studies, in which they visit locations to collect samples and conduct surveys
- “Analyze aerial photographs, well logs (detailed records of geologic formations found during drilling), rock samples, and other data sources to locate deposits of natural resources and estimate their size
- “Conduct laboratory tests on samples collected in the field
- “Make geologic maps and charts
- “Prepare written scientific reports”
Renewable Energy Consultant
Individuals working as renewable energy consultants show quite a lot of variability in their educational backgrounds and employers. One thing remains constant, though: Renewable energy consultants help interested clients or employers to understand their current energy requirements and how they can best add renewable energy sources into their power mix.
Farm and Fishery Manager
Farm and Fishery Managers are environmental professionals who leverage their understanding of ecosystems to optimize crop and fish production in sustainable ways. This green job requires a balance of practical skills, scientific knowledge, and business acumen. Managers work to maintain the health of their farming or fishing operations while adhering to environmental regulations and sustainability practices. Tasks may include overseeing daily operations, planning harvest schedules, monitoring the health of crops or aquatic populations, and implementing environmentally-friendly farming or fishing practices. Education requirements can vary widely, but many have a bachelor's degree in agriculture, fisheries science, or a related field.
Safety Technician
Safety Technicians play a crucial role in maintaining safe work environments, particularly in industries that pose potential hazards, like manufacturing, construction, or energy. These professionals inspect workplaces to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations. They identify potential hazards and recommend solutions to mitigate risk, aiming to prevent accidents and protect employees and the environment. Safety Technicians usually need a related associate's degree or certification, along with strong observational and problem-solving skills.
Compliance Manager
Compliance Managers ensure that organizations adhere to environmental laws and regulations. Their work involves developing company policies, conducting audits, training staff, and investigating any incidents of non-compliance. They help organizations navigate complex regulatory environments and uphold high environmental standards. Compliance Managers typically hold a bachelor's degree in environmental science, law, business, or a related field. Certifications, such as those offered by NREPSM, may also be advantageous. This role requires strong knowledge of environmental regulations, excellent communication skills, and the ability to implement effective compliance strategies.
Natural Resources Specialist
Many of the green jobs mentioned above involve implementing or enforcing environmental regulations. Natural resources specialists, though, sometimes get to make them. This highly flexible job often ends up attached to governmental entities or universities, and employees monitor various environmental resources, examine environmental impacts, and make recommendations for restoring ailing areas. Note that this particular job can look very different from employer to employer.
If you’re considering an in-demand green job, consider becoming NREPSM certified. For decades, we’ve certified professionals in the environmental and safety fields, and we’re recognized by the United States Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Contact us today!