Posted by Nancy Sabatelli on Jan.19, 2010

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In Part 1: Why Are Green Jobs Growing?, we discovered that many “green jobs” are built on traditional blue-collar jobs, but are designed to improve the environment. Other types of green jobs involve different technical expertise or management skills. Green jobs are projected to grow, thanks to new environmental mandates and regulations as well as government funding and stimulus packages.

Now, take a closer look at some specific green jobs, job descriptions, required education or training, plus average salaries or pay. In addition, learn some helpful hints if you’re searching for a green job.

Computer Technicians

These positions will be especially important as buildings transition from traditional fossil fuels for energy to alternative energy sources – like wind or solar power – because the new efficient energy grids will be controlled and maintained via computers.

In fact, “Demand is so great for this IT [Information Technology] experience that the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts nearly 50 percent growth in the field from 2006-2016,” writes Carol Tice for Yahoo! Hot Jobs (5).

However, a great deal of education and training are required for these positions – typically, at least a Bachelor’s degree in “computer science, information science or management information systems,” she notes (5).

On the plus side, the average annual salary is about $63,000 (5).

Construction Workers

Older buildings – whether residential or commercial – will need upgrades, repairs and additions. Often, these changes will help make older buildings more environmentally-friendly, using reclaimed or sustainable building materials, better insulation, etc. New green buildings are springing up, also aiming to be eco-conscious. Construction workers tackle both types of projects (1, 3, 4, 5, 9).

In addition to construction workers and carpenters, there will be new green jobs in similar fields, such as “landscape architects, materials engineers and more,” according to Connie Blaszczyk for Monster.com (9).

There’s plenty of room for job growth and advancement in this field. For example, construction project managers oversee the work of other carpenters or construction workers on a particular project. They can earn an average of $68,000 annually, claims Tice (5).

Environmental Engineers

These specialists will be in high demand, too (3, 4, 5, 9). In fact, “Demand is predicted to grow more than 25% over the next eight years….Many environmental engineers work as consultants, helping their clients find ways to decrease the environmental impact of their projects,” writes Anna Vander Broek for Forbes.com (8). Their mission is to plan and implement new solutions for cleaner air and water (5). Some of their specific tasks are disposing of trash, recycling, cleaning the air and water supplies as well as implementing new energy sources, such as wind and solar grids (9).

Environmental engineers need at least a Bachelor’s degree. Plus, they must participate in ongoing training, certification or graduate work to keep abreast of the latest technologies and practices within their specialties (5). Average salaries can vary greatly, between $68,600 to $100,000 or more per year (5, 8).

Solar and Wind Power Builders and Installers

As we increasingly turn towards alternative energy sources – like solar and wind power – we’ll need workers to build and install solar panels and wind turbines that harvest this energy (1, 3, 4).

“The biggest jobs are going to be in maintaining wind turbines and installing solar panels,’” Jackie Roberts of the Environmental Defense Fund tells Yahoo! Green (3).

Many of these will be manufacturing jobs – great news for people with experience in steel work or other similar fields. Why? Manufacturing jobs have down turned in the recent past, so this resurgence will give manufacturing workers new opportunities to use their existing skills.

“ ‘If you are a machinist building pipeline equipment, you could just as easily be a machinist building wind turbine equipment,’” Pete Altman of the National Resources Defense Council notes on Yahoo! Green (3).

Upper Level Jobs (Accountants, Lawyers, Marketers, Planners)

Even “white collar” or “professional” occupations can be considered “green jobs” if you’re working for a company dedicated to helping the environment, such as a corporation that makes organic products (4, 6). Examples of such jobs include human resources personnel and accountants.

Environmental lawyers are also upper level green jobs. Of course, as with lawyers in other specialties, you’ll need to attend college, law school and pass all the required exams to become a lawyer. However, you’ll gain the satisfaction of enforcing laws that help the environment, or going after companies that defy government environmental laws and regulations. An added bonus is the salary: “Environmental lawyers have the potential to earn just as much as their counterparts in other areas of law, with salaries exceeding $145,000 a year,” claims Anna Vander Broek for Forbes.com (8).

Sales and marketing are other important upper level green jobs. To spread the word about new green companies, technologies or products, marketers must develop promotional materials and educate consumers (5).

Another example of upper level green jobs are urban and regional planners. These individuals play a major role in shaping the roads, living spaces and public buildings in the environment. They help to plan locations for schools, roads, parks and projects, with the aim of minimizing harm to the environment. Even for an entry-level position as an urban or regional planner, you’ll need at least “a master’s degree in urban or regional planning or a similar field,” Tice writes (5). The average salary is approximately $60,600 per year (5).

Where to Find Green Jobs

Interested in a green job? Wondering where you can find these opportunities? A great place to start is the Internet. Many Web sites have advice, tips or listings for green job openings (4, 6).

You can try traditional job search engines – like Yahoo! Hot Jobs or Monster.com – and type in “green jobs” or “environmental jobs.” There are also sites and search engines with information dedicated solely to green jobs, including the following, suggests Lori Bongiorno for Yahoo! Green (4):

• American Green Jobs (http://www.americangreenjobs.net/)

• Green For All (http://www.greenforall.org/resources)

• The Corps Network (http://www.nascc.org/)

• Green Jobs Network (http://www.greenjobs.net/)

• Greenjobs (http://www.greenjobs.com/public/index.aspx)

• Environmental Defense Fund (http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=33427)

• Natural Resources Defense Council (http://www.nrdc.org/energy/greenjobs/)

Plus, you can try checking with local job placement services or recruiters, your local Department of Labor or your local community college career center: Bongiorno says these can also be great resources in finding a green job.

Sources

1. McMahon, Ada. What Are Green-Collar Jobs? (2009). Yahoo! HotJobs. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-what_are_green_collar_jobs-874

2. Robertson, Jordan. Where’s the Next Boom? Maybe in ‘Cleantech.’ (October 6, 2009). Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wheres-the-next-boom-Maybe-in-apf-2624700390.html?x=0

3. Bongiorno, Lori. What the ‘Green Collar’ Economy Means for You. (January 29, 2009). Yahoo! Green. Retrieved December 2, 2009 from http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/231/what-the-green-collar-economy-means-for-you.html

4. Bongiorno, Lori. How to Find a Green Job. (June 2, 2009). Yahoo! Green. Retrieved December 2, 2009 from http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/76/how-to-find-a-green-job.html

5. Tice, Carol. Green Jobs That Make $30 an Hour. (2009). Yahoo! HotJobs. Retrieved December 3, 2009 from http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-green_jobs_that_make_30_an_hour-1019

6. Dunn, Colin. Land a Green Job. (March 23, 2008). Planet Green. Retrieved December 3, 2009 from http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/land-a-green-job.html

7. What Are Green-Collar Jobs? (2009). Green For All. Retrieved December 5, 2009 from http://www.greenforall.org/green-collar-jobs

8. Broek, Anna Vander. Six-Figure Green Jobs. (October 16, 2008). Forbes. Retrieved December 3, 2009 from http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/16/sixfigure-green-jobs-lead-corprespons08-cx_avb_1016jobs.html

9. Blaszczyk, Connie. Green and Growing: Environmental Jobs. (2009). Monster. Retrieved January 1, 2010 from http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/Company-Industry-Research/Green-and-Growing-Environmental-Job/article.aspx

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