ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

A number of scientific, technical, educational, and professional careers exist for people who want to make a positive contribution to protecting and restoring the environment. Occupations within the field include: park naturalist or guide, wildlife ecologist, ecology specialist, field researcher, geologist, fish and game supervisor.

Environmental scientists conduct research to identify and abate or eliminate sources of pollutants that affect people, wildlife, and their environments. These workers analyze and report measurements and observations of air, water, soil, and other sources and make recommendations on how best to clean and preserve the environment. Understanding the issues involved in protecting the environment—degradation, conservation, recycling, and replenishment—is central to the work of environmental scientists, who often use their skills and knowledge to design and monitor waste disposal sites, preserve water supplies, and reclaim contaminated land and water to comply with Federal environmental regulations.

Some environmental scientists work in managerial positions, usually after spending some time performing research or learning about environmental laws and regulations. Many work as consultants to business firms or to government agencies, helping them comply with environmental policy, particularly with regard to ground-water contamination and flood control. Environmental scientists who determine policy may help identify how human behavior can be modified in the future to avoid such problems as ground-water contamination and depletion of the ozone layer.

Occupation Highlights:

• Work at remote field sites is common.
• Federal, State, and local governments employ nearly one-half of all environmental scientists and geoscientists.
• A bachelor’s degree is adequate for a few entry-level jobs, but a master’s degree is usually the minimum educational requirement; a Ph.D. degree is required for most high-level research positions.
• Employment of geoscientists is expected to grow as fast as average, while environmental scientists and hydrologists will experience faster than average growth.

Earnings (Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook)

Median annual earnings of environmental scientists were $47,600 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,820 and $62,400. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,200.

Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest number of environmental scientists in 2002 were as follows:

Additional Resources:

American Geological Institute
4220 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22302-1502
www.agiweb.org

American Association of Petroleum Geologists
P.O. Box 979
Tulsa, OK 74101
www.aapg.org

Jobs in environmental policy, conservation, advocacy, and education
www.ecojobs.com

Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
www.bls.gov/oco

Citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos050.htm