A degree in environmental science can get you into a wide variety of professional fields. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common jobs that students with a degree in environmental science can get in the United States.
An environmental science degree will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in the field of conservation and preservation. If you are interested in pursuing an environmental science degree, there are several potential job titles that you may be interested in.
Aquatic ecologist
Biologist
Chemist
Conservationist
Ecological engineer
Environmental engineer
What jobs can an environmental science degree get
Introduction
If you have a degree in environmental science, the world is an oyster for you. You can be a scientist, a technician or manager, even enter public service and government! Let’s look at some of the best possible jobs you can get with this type of education.
Environmental scientist
An environmental scientist is a skilled professional who uses knowledge of the natural world to help companies, governments and communities make decisions. These professionals work in many areas including research, policy development and regulation compliance. They also analyze environmental issues for businesses or individuals.
Some common jobs for environmental scientists include:
- Environmental scientist
- Air quality specialist
- Pollution control technician
Environmental technician
An environmental technician is a professional who collects, analyzes, and interprets data to assess the impacts of human activities on the environment. Environmental technicians can work in government agencies or private industry, or they can be employed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They may work in one specific sector such as water quality or air quality management, or they may have a more general role that requires them to oversee projects across multiple areas.
Data analyst
- Data analysts use data to solve problems. A data analyst is a person who uses statistics, data science and data visualization to analyze past performance in order to improve future outcomes.
- Data analysts are in demand. As more companies recognize the need for good analysis of their own datasets, the demand for skilled data analysts will grow exponentially over time. This means that if you have an environmental science degree, there’s a good chance (no guarantee!) that you’ll be able to find employment as a data analyst when you graduate from college.
- So why go after this career? It’s well paid! According to Payscale, which collects salary information on employers across America, entry-level environmental scientists earn an average salary of $31k annually while experienced ones earn around $70k/year on average – which is pretty decent considering how hard it is today just getting any job at all!
Conservation scientist or forester
Conservation scientists and foresters both have the opportunity to work in conservation, but they do so from different perspectives. Conservation scientists are concerned with the conservation and preservation of natural resources, such as water and wildlife, while foresters are concerned with the management and conservation of forests. In both positions, you’ll be working to protect our planet’s natural resources.
Geoscientist
A geoscientist studies the earth and its processes. They draw on knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology and math to understand how natural systems work. Geoscientists study the structures and composition of the earth’s surface (e.g., minerals) as well as its internal workings (e.g., magma). Geoscience careers may involve working in environmental consulting or with government agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS employs more than 2000 scientists who conduct studies in all 50 states to better understand our nation’s resources for use by industry, government agencies, private citizens and others who live in communities located near these resources such as oil wells or coal mines.[2]
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a geologist or hydrologist then your first step will be earning an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution that offers programs related to geology or hydrology where you can gain hands-on experience through internships during your coursework at school or by participating in field trips outside of class time with faculty members.[3]
Hydrologist
If you’re interested in the movement, distribution and quality of water on Earth, a career as a hydrologist may be right up your alley. In this role, you’ll study how water moves through the environment and how it affects local ecosystems and weather patterns. Hydrologists also examine how people use water resources to meet their needs; this could mean anything from drinking water supplies to irrigation systems that supply crops with water.
Hydrology is an important component in many environmental science jobs—it’s necessary for any work involving land use (such as planning land development) or understanding our climate (in order to predict patterns of precipitation). In fact, many government agencies employ hydrologists because their expertise can help them manage public works projects such as building dams or maintaining flood control measures.
In addition to working for environmental agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), hydrologists also have opportunities outside of government service: they are needed by utilities companies that provide clean drinking water; by private consulting firms specializing in sustainable agriculture practices; or even by biotechnology companies that produce genetically modified crops!
Meteorologist (atmospheric scientist)
Meteorology is a broad field that covers the study of the atmosphere, including weather and climate patterns. Meteorologists are often confused with weathermen and forecasters—though meteorologists do work closely with them, their jobs are quite different.
Meteorologists are scientists who use scientific principles to improve forecasts of impending weather events like thunderstorms or hurricanes. They also study long-term trends in atmospheric conditions, such as global warming or ozone depletion. Meteorologists may work for research institutions or for private companies that provide information about weather to the public (like Accuweather or The Weather Channel).
The main difference between meteorology and other sciences like astronomy is that astronomers look out into space while meteorologists look down onto Earth’s surface from above our heads!
Natural sciences manager
Natural sciences managers are responsible for leading teams of scientists, technicians, and other personnel. They study research trends in the field, write reports based on their findings, and develop new methods for collecting data. These professionals typically earn a high salary because they require an advanced degree in environmental science or another natural science area (such as chemistry) along with at least five years of experience working in the industry.
Most environmental science managers have an undergraduate degree in one of the natural sciences such as biology or chemistry; however some may have earned a master’s or doctoral degree instead. In addition to taking courses related to their area of specialization while they were earning their bachelor’s degree (for example: “Counting Algae” or “Chemistry Lab”), these job candidates should also be prepared to take classes that cover topics like management skills and leadership techniques during their graduate program if they plan on pursuing higher education after graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree only.”
Your career prospects aren’t limited to “saving the earth”.
Your career prospects aren’t limited to “saving the earth”. You can work in many areas and for many different types of organizations. You could be a scientist or an engineer, or you might decide to take your skills into the private sector, government, or non-profit organizations. If you prefer working in an international environment then there are plenty of job opportunities out there for you! There’s also no reason why you can’t combine environmental science with another degree like law, business or medicine if that’s what interests you most.
Conclusion
Environmental science is a huge field with countless potential career paths, and the breadth of jobs available to those in the industry can be overwhelming. Hopefully this blog post has helped you see some of your options, but the truth is that there are many more than we could cover here. If you’re looking for a job where you can help preserve our planet and its resources, an environmental science degree will help get you there.