13% 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.
30 Outdoor Careers, Ranked by Median Wage (2026)
Ship Engineer tops this list at $109,530 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +1.6% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Occupations that spend most of the working day outdoors, exposed to weather or working under cover.
- Careers on this list
- 30
- Median pay on the list
- $80,665
- Projected to grow
- 22 of 30
- Openings a year
- 387,900
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Included when O*NET work context reports most of the working day spent outdoors, exposed to weather or working under cover.
- 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 top 30 outdoor careers
1. Ship Engineer
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $109,530
- Growth
- +1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Certificate
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
2. First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $106,040
- Growth
- +2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 10,900
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
3. Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $103,020
- Growth
- +5.5%
- Openings / yr
- 2,000
- Education
- Certificate
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
4. Petroleum Pump System Operator, Refinery Operator, and Gauger
Production
- Median pay
- $96,710
- Growth
- -2.8%
- Openings / yr
- 3,200
- Education
- High school
Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $95,320
- Growth
- +6.6%
- Openings / yr
- 10,700
- Education
- High school
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.
6. First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $93,530
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 6,500
- Education
- Certificate
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
7. Signal and Track Switch Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $92,460
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- High school
Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
8. Captain, Mate, and Pilot of Water Vessels
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $92,460
- Growth
- +0.5%
- Openings / yr
- 4,300
- Education
- Certificate
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
9. Transportation Inspector
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $92,100
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 2,500
- Education
- High school
Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
10. Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $92,100
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 2,500
- Education
- High school
Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
11. Transit and Railroad Police
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $90,230
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 200
- Education
- High school
Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
12. Farmer or Agricultural Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $89,900
- Growth
- -1.3%
- Openings / yr
- 85,500
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
13. Gas Plant Operator
Production
- Median pay
- $87,820
- Growth
- -8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 1,300
- Education
- High school
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
14. Subway and Streetcar Operator
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $86,380
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- High school
Operate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
15. Locomotive Engineer
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $81,410
- Growth
- +0.7%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- High school
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
16. First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $79,920
- Growth
- +5.3%
- Openings / yr
- 74,400
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
17. Solar Energy Installation Manager
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $79,920
- Growth
- +5.3%
- Openings / yr
- 74,400
- Education
- High school
Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $79,870
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 11,300
- Education
- Certificate
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
19. Chemical Plant and System Operator
Production
- Median pay
- $78,120
- Growth
- -6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- High school
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
20. Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $78,000
- Growth
- +1.1%
- Openings / yr
- 3,100
- Education
- High school
Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
21. Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operator
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $77,320
- Growth
- -1.3%
- Openings / yr
- 600
- Education
- High school
Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $76,210
- Growth
- +3.1%
- Openings / yr
- 53,700
- Education
- High school
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
23. Fire Inspector and Investigator
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $75,920
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Certificate
Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
24. Surveyor
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $75,440
- Growth
- +4.4%
- Openings / yr
- 3,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $74,690
- Growth
- -0.8%
- Openings / yr
- 14,800
- Education
- High school
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations.
26. Control and Valve Installer and Repairer, Except Mechanical Door
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $74,340
- Growth
- +1.3%
- Openings / yr
- 3,900
- Education
- High school
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
27. Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $74,330
- Growth
- -3.1%
- Openings / yr
- 8,900
- Education
- High school
Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
28. Fish and Game Warden
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $74,060
- Growth
- -6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
29. Pile Driver Operator
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $73,300
- Growth
- +4.3%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- High school
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
30. Commercial Diver
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $72,990
- Growth
- +8.5%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Certificate
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Outdoor Careers: FAQ
What is the top career on the outdoor careers list?
Ship Engineer leads the list with a median wage of $109,530 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +1.6% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is certificate.
How was this list put together?
Occupations that spend most of the working day outdoors, exposed to weather or working under cover. Included when O*NET work context reports most of the working day spent outdoors, exposed to weather or working under cover. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do outdoor careers pay?
Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $80,665 a year, from $72,990 at the bottom to $109,530 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?
28 of the 30 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, 2024–2034).