Earth Friendly Careers
Posted by Judy Anne Cavey on Feb 29, 2012 in Career Advice, Green Jobs, Green Majors | No Comments
Nearly 1.2 million new green jobs are predicted to be available in the next year.
Undecided about your major, or thinking of changing? Here are five well paying green jobs you might not have considered from Catherine Ryans article, Is a Green Job Your Dream Job?, Self magazine:
Urban Forester
Average Income: $55K
Job Description:
Plant and care for trees in parks and along city streets. More than 3,400 communities have earmarked big budgets to promote tree care, according to Arbor Day Foundations Tree City USA program. Having said that, a reality check of some communities: budgets have been cutsome severelydepending on the city. So it pays to do research first, to see where the budgets are still in tack.
Background Necessary:
Biology, environmental science or urban planning with a Certified Forester credentialthe industrys gold standard endorsement. Study forest management at a university accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAFNet). Students and grads should amp up their resume by volunteering with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees.
Green Event Planner
Average Income: $77K
Job Description:
Organize eco-friendly, low impact conferences, weddings, parties and trade shows. Sustainability is popular right now, and small-footprint events are on the rise. Membership has tripled in the Green Meeting Industry Council, the organization educates eco-minded event planners.
Background Necessary:
A degree in hospitality or event planning and management. See Hospitality-1st for a list of schools, but do check them out thoroughly. Real life experience counts a great deal here. Sign-up for workshops run by the Green Meeting Industry Council at GreenMeetings.
Carbon Accountant
Average Income: $80K
Job Description:
Measure and track the production of greenhouse gases.The EPA mandated in September of 2009, that utility companies start reporting their emissions. Then in October of 2009, President Obama asked federal agencies to start detailing their greenhouse gas output and to devise ways to educate their vendors to cut emissions. Basically, what all this means is that companies lightening their carbon footprint will get more federal contractsa big incentive.
Background Necessary:
A degree in math, science, or accounting and knowledge of emissions auditing. See training programs through Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGInstitute).
Sustainability Manager
Average Income: $82K
Job Description:
By researching energy-efficient heating, for example, you can assist a company have less of a negative impact. Experts say these positions are increasing in demand.
Background Necessary:
Business experience, but that doesnt necessarily mean an MBA. Join the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) to begin networking.
Eco-Responsibility Marketer
Average Income: $95K
Job Description:
They promote and publicize the companys or clients green ways, while verifying all outgoing information for accuracy. A need exists for fact-checking to prevent misleading consumers.
Background Necessary:
Knowledge of public relations, marketing and communications is essential, along with being ecologically savvy. See Ithaca College for information on their well-respected sustainability webinars (Ithaca College). Also see GreenWashingIndex to learn how to spot green impostors.
If you are looking for more career options try this free Career Quiz.
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