Top 5 Green Careers - More People Pursuing Green Collar Jobs Out of College

In addition to the recent attention that elevated itacceptable environmental sustainability. As
to the American mainstream, the Green Jobsepicentres of resource use (and misuse) and
Industry has been a developing field for the pastwastefulness, the urban landscape in the U.S.
few decades. Patrick Heffernan's 1976 study Jobsneeds to be designed (and repaired) from an
for the Environment - The Coming Green Collarenvironmental and ecological point of view.
Revolution informed congress on the importanceEnvironmentally educated planners dedicated to
of environmental awareness in business andreconfiguring our communities around resource
government. Alan Durning's book Green Collarefficiency and decreased waste will be essential.
Jobs first introduced the term to America.University Education
Focusing on the post-logging towns of the PacificMany Urban Planning and Public Policy programs
Northwest, his work examines the shift from anare adding sustainable design and planning to their
economic dependence on the natural resources ofcurriculum. Along with the natural and social
the land to an awareness of environmental andsciences, students are receiving educations in
ecological preservation. This opened the doors forengineering and architecture to aid them in the
the green collar industry and such fields asnew green Urban Planning field.
sustainable forestry, natural resourceJob Outlook
conservation, and ecological restoration. And, inAccording to the BLS, employment for Urban
2006 Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes of San FranciscoPlanners is expected to grow at a rate of 15%
State University defines green collar jobs as "blueover the next decade. This is driven by the need
collar jobs in green businesses - that is, manualto preserve existing urban communities and to
labor jobs in businesses whose products andprovide them with ways to become more "green"
services directly improve environmental quality,"conscious and energy and resource efficient. Also,
finally offering a concrete definition of the term.the largest sector of this industry will deal with
Today, with environmental awareness at anthe development of new, environmentally sound,
all-time high, we are seeing an increase inurban communities.
employment opportunities across the board.ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER
Scientists are needed to analyze, protect, andPorfessional Field
monitor the environment and society's interactionFinally, a law practice which receives applause
with it. Builders and urban planners are needed torather than disdain from the general public. Law
design and construct environmentally friendlystudents are finding this "green" legal field readily
neighborhoods, parks, recreation areas, andavailable in their university's curriculum and the
housing and commercial developments. The fieldprofessional field very welcoming. The "greening"
of alternative and renewable energies haveof the nation has seen the enactment of dozens
opened the doors to students of engineering,of federal policies, several congressional acts, and
technicians, analysts, and environmentalcountless corporate and business regulations.
management looking to "green" their career paths.When a corporation or large business fails to
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) hascomply with federal green regulations, an
stated that there are 8.5 million jobs in the solarenvironmental law group steps in to ensure the
energy field. Educators ranging from middle schoolfuture compliance of the group. It is the job of
earth science teachers to environmental biologyenvironmental law students to work as policy
professors are providing much needed instructionpushers and consultants to make sure
and preparation to an enthusiastic generationcorporations, states and cities, and the general
eager to repair the planet in the fields ofpublic adhere to these new green initiatives.
environmental management, natural resourceUniversity Education
conservation, and forest preservation. Organic andMany law schools across the country are now
sustainable farming, one of the oldest greenoffering J.D. degrees with concentrations in
professions, is still an ever growing field as peopleenvironmental law. Programs are now becoming
are becoming more aware of environmentallyinterdisciplinary, with courses offered in the natural
responsible farming practices.and social sciences in such areas as conservation,
So, even if your interests and education don'tethics, policy, and national and global issues.
involve years of study in agronomy or geology,Job Outlook
water conservation or landscape architecture, youWith corporations across the U.S. seeking guidance
can still find a career that lets you "go green."about the ecological impact of their actions - from
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERland use to pollution control - the need for
Professional Fieldenvironmental lawyers and corporate consultants
Environmental engineers are finding work in theis expected to increase at a rate of 25 percent
fields of urban planning, green building, solar, wind,over the next decade (EPA).
and hydroelectric energy farms and plants. TheseENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
environmentally educated engineers conductMany fields of environmental science are now in
building site appraisals, work with architects andhigh demand. Environmental Scientists can be
planners on construction projects, work withfound in "green" fields of business ranging from
environmental policy makers, work as techniciansagriculture to education, and from energy to
and electrical engineers, and use their knowledgebuilding. They often work as consultants in the
of the effects and control of pollutions workingdevelopment of wildlife parks, and as researchers
for large plants and manufacturers.in new forms of biofuel production and pollution
Environmental engineers, along with their technicalcontrol.
and analytical expertise, focus on environmentalUniversity Education
compliance issues and work with managers andThey take the training they acquired at the
executives on the adherence to federal regulatoryuniversity level in the natural sciences (biology,
practices.chemistry, ecology, geology, forestry) and apply
So whether a student has a background into the working world, all the while focusing on
science or technology there are an abundance ofenvironmental conservation and protection. For
jobs in the green-collar industry that can help theresearch and higher level manager positions, an
environment.advanced degree is usually required. However,
University Educationenvironmental scientists with bachelor's degrees
For most high level engineering positions, anare finding an abundant amount of opportunities
advance degree is required. However, individualsavailable.
with environmental engineering degrees can findJob Outlook
work with a bachelor's degree. Core courses atAccording to the BLS, the employment of
most university programs emphasize math,Environmental Scientists is expected to increase
physics, and the natural sciences.at a rate of 25 percent over the next decade, a
Job Outlookrate much higher than the national average.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)Currently, 43% of all Environmental Scientists
environmental engineers will see a 10-25%work for local, state, or federal governments
increase in the job market over the next decade.(BLS). Many work for consulting firms, or as
Engineering salaries have always been above theprivate consultants.
average for the U.S. work force, and as theTOP PROFESSIONS IN THE FIELD
demand for environmental engineers in newConservation Biologist
"green" fields grows, these salaries will as well.Conservation biologists focus on the protection
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTand restoration of biodiversity in various
Professional Fieldecosystems on the planet. They develop
Sustainable Architects are finding themselves inenvironmental planning and management practices
high demand as the push for "greener" buildingto maintain the wildlife and resources of the
practices reaches from the commercial industryearth's natural ecology.
to the residential one. Sustainable Architects workHydrologist
closely with Urban Planners and Parks andHydrologists use science and math backgrounds
Recreation professionals to develop sustainableto improve and solve water quality issues. They
environments for living, business, and recreation.work with natural bodies of water to improve
University Educationaquatic ecosystems, and also with man made
Most architectural schools are integrating "green"reservoirs to improve the quality of drinking
building practices into their curriculum and degreewater and irrigation for farming.
programs. Sustainable architecture courses areToxicologist
found in sustainable design programs, urbanToxicologists study the causes and effects of
planning programs, and, as they become moreharmful toxins, and how we can better protect
prevalent in the world of academia, sustainableourselves from the exposure to poisons.
architecture programs.Toxicologists study how we are exposed to
Job Outlooktoxicants, the levels it takes to harm us, and how
The Leadership in Energy and Environmentalto reduce or eliminate the effects of toxins. They
Design (LEED) initiative set forth by the U.S.study the effect of toxins in drinking water,
Green Building Council has given rise to newagricultural products, household cleaners, and
guidelines for the implementation of "green"many other everyday products.
standards for construction companies. SustainableEcologist
Architects will be in high demand as communities,Ecologists study the relationship between the
new and old, want to follow the green trend andenvironment and actions that affect it, including
bring their properties up to these new standards.weather, pollution, climate change, human
The U.S. Green Building Council reports that theinterference, and industrialization. Ecologists work in
U.S. green building industry has a sales volume ofa range of environmental fields including forest
more than $5 billion dollars in the last two yearspreservation, wildlife science and protections
and currently sits at $12 billion. More money being(especially working with endangered species
spent translates into more opportunities.restoration), park and woodlands development,
URBAN / LAND USE PLANNERSand water and natural resource conservation. The
Professional Fieldmain goal and responsibility of all ecologists is
One of the biggest facing the green revolution isenvironmental preservation and sustainability.
the conversion of the urban landscape to an