Earth Day 2019: Careers that Care for Our Earth

Friday, April 19, 2019

Next year will be the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! The first Earth Day occurred on April 22, 1970, and I will show my age and admit that I clearly recall marching around my little campus on a blustery spring day in Topeka. Now, 49 years later, we want to celebrate Earth Day by highlighting some jobs that take care of our planet.

One way we keep track of jobs in the United States is through the Occupational Outlook Handbook which provides career information for hundreds of occupations. The Occupational Outlook Handbook was first published in 1949 to serve returning veterans of World War II. This year, the Handbook is 70 years old!

In honor of Earth Day, here are six earth-friendly career paths to consider:

Agricultural Engineers

What they do: Solve agricultural problems concerning power supplies, the efficiency of machinery, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products. Female scientist in a field examining crops.

2018 median pay: $77,110 per year
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Number of jobs 2016: 2,700
Projected growth. 2016–26: 8% (As fast as average)

Environmental Engineering Technicians

What they do: Test, operate, and, if necessary, modify equipment used to prevent or clean up environmental pollution. They may collect samples for testing, or they may work to mitigate sources of environmental pollution. Scientist standing near waterfalls and wearing protective clothing.

2018 median pay: $50,560 per year
Typical entry-level education: Associate’s degree
Number of jobs 2016: 17,000
Projected growth, 2016–26: 13% (Faster than average)

Biochemists & Biophysicists

What they do: Study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes, such as cell development, growth, heredity, and disease. Two biochemists talking in a lab

2018 median pay: $93,280 per year
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree
Number of jobs 2016: 31,500
Projected growth, 2016–26: 11% (Faster than average)

Atmospheric Scientists, including Meteorologists

What they do: Study the weather and climate, and examine how those conditions affect human activity and the earth in general. Two meteorologists tracking a storm with satellite images.

2018 median pay: $94,110 per year
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Number of jobs 2016: 10,400
Projected growth, 2016–26: 12% (Faster than average)

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installers

What they do: Assemble, install, and maintain solar panel systems on rooftops or other structures. Person wearing protective clothing installing solar panels.

2018 median pay: $42,680 per year
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent
Number of jobs 2016: 11,300
Projected growth, 2016–26: 105% (Fastest of the more than 800 occupations BLS projects)

Environmental Scientists & Specialists

What they do: Use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with industry to reduce waste. Scientists taking notes while conducting research in a nature area

2018 median pay: $71,130 per year
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
Number of jobs 2016: 89,500
Projected growth, 2016–26: 11% (Faster than average)

Want more information? You can explore hundreds of occupations using our Occupational Outlook Handbook. For a larger list of new and emerging earth-friendly or “green” jobs, visit the Department of Labor’s O*Net Resource Center.