Ranked list · 48 careers

48 Environmental Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)

Chief Sustainability Officer tops this list at $213,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +3.2% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 48 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.

Careers on this list: 48From 1,731 in the bank
Median pay on the list: $83,050BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected to grow: 44 of 48BLS EP, 2025–2035
Openings a year: 1,420,600Combined, BLS EP

Method

How we built this list

Careers protecting land, air and water: environmental scientists and engineers, conservation roles, remediation and the specialists who measure environmental impact. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.

The list

The top 48 environmental jobs

100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.

1
1. Chief Sustainability Officer
Management
Median pay
$213,990median a year
Growth
+3.2%
Openings / yr
19,100
Education
Bachelor's
Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues.
2
2. Water Resource Specialist
Management
Median pay
$167,220median a year
Growth
+8.2%
Openings / yr
9,200
Education
Bachelor's
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
3
3. Brownfield Redevelopment Specialist and Site Manager
Management
Median pay
$141,900median a year
Growth
+4.9%
Openings / yr
100,900
Education
Bachelor's
Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse.
4
4. Carbon Capture Engineer
Specialty within chemical engineer
Median pay
$125,040median (parent occupation)
Growth
+4.7%
Openings / yr
1,100
Education
Bachelor's
Designs and runs systems that capture carbon dioxide from industrial plants or the air and move it to permanent storage or use.
5
5. Environmental Economist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$124,720median a year
Growth
+4.7%
Openings / yr
1,100
Education
Master's
Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources.
6
6. Environmental Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
Median pay
$107,110median a year
Growth
+6.3%
Openings / yr
2,300
Education
Bachelor's
Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines.
7
7. Energy Manager
Specialty within facilities manager
Median pay
$106,660median (parent occupation)
Growth
+4.6%
Openings / yr
14,200
Education
Bachelor's
Cuts energy use and cost across a portfolio of buildings or plants by tracking consumption, buying power wisely and leading efficiency projects.
8
8. Pipeline Integrity Engineer
Specialty within mechanical engineer
Median pay
$104,110median (parent occupation)
Growth
+11.2%
Openings / yr
17,800
Education
Bachelor's
Keeps oil, gas and hazardous liquid pipelines from failing by assessing corrosion, cracks and dents and planning inspections and repairs.
9
9. Carbon Removal Project Developer
Specialty within project management specialist
Median pay
$102,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.7%
Openings / yr
76,500
Education
Bachelor's
Builds projects that pull carbon dioxide out of the air, such as direct air capture plants or enhanced rock weathering, and turns them into verified, sellable carbon removal credits.
10
10. Carbon Storage Geologist
Specialty within geoscientist, except hydrologists and geographers
Median pay
$101,920median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.1%
Openings / yr
1,800
Education
Bachelor's
Finds and evaluates underground rock formations that can permanently store captured carbon dioxide, and monitors them after injection begins.
11
11. Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
Median pay
$101,420median a year
Growth
+2.8%
Openings / yr
100
Education
Doctorate
Teach courses in forestry and conservation science.
12
12. Water/Wastewater Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
Median pay
$100,840median a year
Growth
+6.4%
Openings / yr
22,700
Education
Bachelor's
Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage.
13
13. Environmental Science Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
Median pay
$94,980median a year
Growth
+2.7%
Openings / yr
600
Education
Doctorate
Teach courses in environmental science.
14
14. Carbon Accountant
Specialty within sustainability specialist
Median pay
$83,050median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Measures and reports an organization's greenhouse gas emissions using standard accounting methods so it can disclose and reduce them.
15
15. Green Building Consultant
Specialty within sustainability specialist
Median pay
$83,050median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Guides building projects through green certification programs like LEED, advising on energy, water, materials and indoor air quality.
16
16. Sustainability Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$83,050median a year
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
17
17. Carbon Credit Verifier
Specialty within environmental scientist and specialist, including health
Median pay
$82,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Independently audits carbon offset and emissions projects to confirm that the tons of carbon they claim to reduce or remove are real before credits are issued.
18
18. Climate Change Policy Analyst
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$82,220median a year
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change.
19
19. Environmental Remediation Specialist
Specialty within environmental scientist and specialist, including health
Median pay
$82,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Investigates contaminated soil and groundwater and plans the cleanup of polluted sites such as old factories, gas stations and landfills.
20
20. Environmental Restoration Planner
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$82,220median a year
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products.
21
21. Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$82,220median a year
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health.
22
22. Industrial Ecologist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$82,220median a year
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems.
23
23. NEPA Planner
Specialty within environmental scientist and specialist, including health
Median pay
$82,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Prepares environmental reviews for federal projects like highways, pipelines and power lines under the National Environmental Policy Act.
24
24. Wetland Scientist
Specialty within environmental scientist and specialist, including health
Median pay
$82,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.1%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
Bachelor's
Identifies and maps wetlands for development projects, permits and restoration, using plants, soils and hydrology as evidence.
25
25. Environmental Compliance Inspector
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$80,730median a year
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
32,700
Education
Bachelor's
Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.
26
26. Building Commissioning Agent
Specialty within construction and building inspector
Median pay
$74,690median (parent occupation)
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Tests and verifies that a building's heating, cooling, controls and other systems are installed and working the way the owner and designers intended.
27
27. Energy Auditor
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$74,690median a year
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Conduct energy audits of buildings, building systems, or process systems.
28
28. Conservation Scientist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$73,010median a year
Growth
+5.3%
Openings / yr
2,100
Education
Bachelor's
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment.
29
29. Fire Ecologist
Specialty within conservation scientist
Median pay
$73,010median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.3%
Openings / yr
2,100
Education
Bachelor's
Studies how wildfire and prescribed fire shape forests, grasslands and wildlife, and helps land managers use fire safely.
30
30. Hydrologic Technician
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$64,790median a year
Growth
−1.3%
Openings / yr
400
Education
Associate's
Collect and organize data concerning the distribution and circulation of ground and surface water, and data on its physical, chemical, and biological properties.
31
31. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator
Production
Median pay
$60,020median a year
Growth
−5.7%
Openings / yr
10,000
Education
High school
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
32
32. Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
Median pay
$59,920median a year
Growth
+3.1%
Openings / yr
1,100
Education
Associate's
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and sit…
33
33. Stormwater Specialist
Specialty within environmental engineering technologist and technician
Median pay
$59,920median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.1%
Openings / yr
1,100
Education
Associate's
Manages programs that keep polluted runoff out of rivers and lakes, inspecting construction sites, outfalls and green infrastructure.
34
34. Environmental Science and Protection Technician, Including Health
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$55,090median a year
Growth
+6.9%
Openings / yr
5,300
Education
Associate's
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist.
35
35. Weatherization Installer and Technician
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$49,910median a year
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
2,400
Education
High school
Perform a variety of activities to weatherize homes and make them more energy efficient.
36
36. Hazardous Materials Removal Worker
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$49,450median a year
Growth
+1.5%
Openings / yr
4,300
Education
High school
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil.
37
37. Recycling and Reclamation Worker
Transportation and Material Moving
Median pay
$40,240median a year
Growth
+1.8%
Openings / yr
340,500
Education
No formal credential
Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling.
38
38. Natural Organic Reduction Technician
Specialty within funeral attendant
Median pay
$35,680median (parent occupation)
Growth
+2.6%
Openings / yr
5,400
Education
High school
Cares for human remains during natural organic reduction, often called human composting, which gently turns a body into soil in a few weeks.
39
39. Fusion Engineer
Specialty within nuclear engineer
Median pay
$133,970median (parent occupation)
Growth
+0.4%
Openings / yr
800
Education
Bachelor's
Designs and builds the magnets, plasma-facing parts and systems of experimental fusion machines that aim to generate power the way the sun does.
40
40. Nuclear Decommissioning Engineer
Specialty within nuclear engineer
Median pay
$133,970median (parent occupation)
Growth
+0.4%
Openings / yr
800
Education
Bachelor's
Plans and manages the safe dismantling of retired nuclear power plants and research facilities and the cleanup of their sites.
41
41. Geothermal Production Manager
Management
Median pay
$126,060median a year
Growth
+2.6%
Openings / yr
17,000
Education
Bachelor's
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities.
42
42. Battery Energy Storage Engineer
Specialty within electrical engineer
Median pay
$120,630median (parent occupation)
Growth
+9.9%
Openings / yr
11,400
Education
Bachelor's
Designs and integrates grid-scale battery storage systems that store electricity from the grid, solar or wind and release it when needed.
43
43. GIS Developer
Specialty within geographic information systems technologist and technician
Median pay
$116,580median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.1%
Openings / yr
27,000
Education
Bachelor's
Writes software and web maps that store, analyze and display location data, for cities, utilities, environmental agencies and logistics firms.
44
44. Corrosion Engineer
Specialty within materials engineer
Median pay
$112,860median (parent occupation)
Growth
+7.5%
Openings / yr
1,300
Education
Bachelor's
Prevents metal structures such as pipelines, refineries, bridges and ships from corroding by choosing materials, coatings and cathodic protection.
45
45. Geothermal Drilling Engineer
Specialty within mining and geological engineer, including mining safety engineers
Median pay
$106,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
300
Education
Bachelor's
Plans and oversees the drilling of deep, hot wells that tap underground heat for geothermal power plants and heating systems.
46
46. Mineral Processing Engineer
Specialty within mining and geological engineer, including mining safety engineers
Median pay
$106,220median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
300
Education
Bachelor's
Designs and runs the plants that crush, grind and separate ore to recover copper, gold, lithium and other minerals.
47
47. Public Works Director
Specialty within general and operations manager
Median pay
$105,770median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
285,000
Education
Bachelor's
Leads a city or county department that builds and maintains streets, water and sewer systems, storm drains, trash collection and public buildings.
48
48. Automotive Calibration Engineer
Specialty within automotive engineer
Median pay
$104,110median (parent occupation)
Growth
+11.2%
Openings / yr
17,800
Education
Bachelor's
Tunes the software parameters in engine, transmission and electric drive controllers so vehicles meet emissions, fuel economy and drivability targets.

Questions

Environmental Jobs: FAQ

What is the top career on the environmental jobs list?

Chief Sustainability Officer leads the list with a median wage of $213,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +3.2% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.

How was this list put together?

Careers protecting land, air and water: environmental scientists and engineers, conservation roles, remediation and the specialists who measure environmental impact. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers protecting land, air and water: environmental scientists and engineers, conservation roles, remediation and the specialists who measure environmental impact. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.

How much do environmental jobs pay?

Across the 48 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $83,050 a year, from $35,680 at the bottom to $213,990 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.

How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?

7 of the 48 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).