Kate Silver

Today, as environmental awareness becomes a greater priority in the U.S., it’s also become big business, and an array of jobs has taken on a green sheen.

1. WATER RESOURCE SPECIALIST

Median annual wage: $65,090

Education: Bachelor’s in natural science or other science-related field

Want to work at the intersection of the environment and human health? A water resource specialist handles all things water related, overseeing quality, supply and regulatory issues. That could mean monitoring the quality of water, collaborating with the owners of water systems and working with the state to address any challenges that impact drinking water. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for water resource specialists and other environmental specialists is growing at 15 percent, which is faster than average job growth, because scientists are in demand to respond to the increased strain on natural resources as the population grows.

2. URBAN PLANNER

Median annual wage: $65,650

Education: Master’s degree in urban planning

Urban planners work to create sustainable communities. In essence, they are the big-picture architects of a town, and usually work within the local government. According to the American Planning Association, a nonprofit that works with planners, the job includes the following types of tasks: projecting population numbers in order to plan for land use; identifying locations for businesses, shopping, entertainment and other entities needed to draw people to the community; determining transportation needs; and working with civil engineers to ensure water and waste needs are met.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

Median annual wage: $46,160

Education: Associate degree in environmental engineering technology or related field

These are the people who help carry out the larger plans of environmental engineers. That means they handle testing and experiments in areas such as pollution control, disposal of hazardous material, modifying equipment, and other tasks. There’s a growing need for employees in this field as local governments focus more attention on water use and treatment of waste water. According to the BLS, the jobs are growing at a rate of 18 percent, which is higher than average job growth.

4. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

Median annual wage: $84,410

Education: Bachelor’s degree in construction-related field, plus additional sustainable construction training

Green construction projects are on the rise. According to a report by McGraw-Hill, 62 percent of businesses constructing new, single-family homes report that at least 15 percent of their sites are green. Eighty-four percent of construction firms expect to reach that level by 2018, which means those companies will typically need construction managers that have experience in planning, supervising and budgeting green projects. The nonprofit National Center for Construction Education and Research offers a U.S. Green Building Council-approved module aimed at educating sustainable construction supervisors on project sustainability, green building materials and green building methods.

5. ZOOLOGIST

Median annual wage: $57,430

Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology or zoology

Zoologists work closely with animals to study their behaviors and learn more about them and how they interact with the environment. Because climate change impacts wildlife, a job as a zoologist has natural ties to conservation, particularly in dealing with threatened and endangered species. If you’re interested in performing in-depth research on animals and conservation (which many zoos are actively involved in), you’ll want to consider a master’s or Ph.D.

6. PERSONAL FINANCIAL ADVISER

Median annual wage: $75,320

Education: Bachelor’s in business, finance or related area

The need for financial planners, and not just in the business world, is on the rise. In fact, the BLS says that with a growth of 27 percent – more than double overall job growth – there will be a need for 60,300 financial planners by 2022. So how does managing someone’s money make good “green” sense? It’s all through investment decisions. Green financial advisers don’t just plan for their client’s future; they bank on the future of the earth by opting for eco-friendly, socially responsible investing. In addition to a bachelor’s, certification and a graduate degree in finance could help you advance in this profession.

7. MARKETING MANAGERS

Median annual wage: $123,220

Education: Bachelor’s, combined with experience in marketing, advertising or sales

A career in marketing is a great way to support your favorite environmental causes. By working as a marketing manager with a business or nonprofit that shares your mission, you get to devise the messaging that communicates your passion. That means you can plan marketing campaigns that raise awareness around any number of topics, such as diminishing amounts of sea ice, recycling and clean energy. The BLS says the need for this position is growing by about 12 percent, and 25,400 more marketing managers are estimated to be hired by 2022.