Top Green Jobs for 2015

Green Jobs for 2015 and Beyond

Posted on Aug 23, 2014 in Green Jobs by Kevin Walker 0 Comments

As more companies adopt more and more environmentally-friendly policies, the number of jobs in the “green industry” continues to grow.

Much of it is fueled by concerns over man’s impact on the environment. Smart businesses have also learned that sound environmental policies are looked on favorably by a growing number of consumers who have concerns about issues such as global warming and polluted water and airways.

Interestingly, many of the fastest growing jobs have been around for decades. But many of these jobs have changed as rules governing, for example, the construction industry have changed to incorporate green initiatives.

Below are some of the hottest green jobs for 2015. All the salary information below is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ survey of salaries in May 2012.

Green Jobs for 2015: Ready to Go Green and Get Paid?

Environmental engineers. Engineers in this field are at the forefront of the battle to improve the environment and make how we live less destructive to the environment. Environmental engineers typically work on projects to develop new green industry processes or find ways of reducing the environmental impact of current industry. They might work on projects to design a new recycling plant or methods to reduce air and water pollution from an existing plant. Environmental engineers made a median salary of $80,890 in May 2012.

Environmental scientists. Much like environmental engineers, people in this profession work to help improve the environment. Scientists typically do the field research to determine the environmental impact of human activities on water, air and soil. They advise leaders on the best courses to pursue to improve the environment. Environmental scientists made a median salary of $63,570 in May 2012.

Industrial engineers. These kind of engineers focus on making industrial practices more efficient and driving out waste, making operations more sustainable. Their knowledge of industrial processes and ability to find methods of streamlining processes is invaluable to the green industry. Industrial engineers made a median annual salary of $78,860 in May 2012.

Geoscientists: Scientists in this specific field study the composition and structure of the Earth and how processes on the planet operate. Their work is especially important in finding sources of energy and also understanding how man’s actions are impacting the global environment. They made a median salary of $90,890 in May 2012.

Construction and building inspectors. Increasing, the codes that buildings must meet are environmental in nature. Inspectors are now an important part of the green industry, ensuring that construction companies are adhering to the latest environmental regulations at the federal, state and local levels. People in this position must stay up-to-date on the latest rules and have a strong set of ethics, as they are often the last line of defense to make sure buildings are properly constructed. Construction and building inspectors made a median salary of $53,450 in May 2012.

There are also a host of other jobs that might not, at first, leap to mind as being green jobs. However, they are growing occupations in part because the skills of people in these jobs are so important to green projects.

Electricians. People don’t immediately associate electricians with green jobs, but they are needed in many – perhaps most – of the areas where upgrades are being made to make buildings, equipment and energy sources more environmentally friendly. For example, much-needed upgrades to the nation’s power grids will involve electricians, as does the installation of equipment such as solar panels. Electricians made an annual salary of $49,840 in May 2012.

Carpenters. With so many new structures going with “green construction,” carpenters are needed to install materials made from recycled products or to make alterations to existing structures in order to fit in environmentally-friendly items such as solar panels. Carpenters made a median annual salary of $39.940 in May 2012.

Pipefitters and steamfitters. People in these occupations install pipe systems to handle water and sewage waste from homes and commercial buildings as well as direct steam to power plants. Their skills are needed to build new plants in the green industry as well as retrofitting older plants to make them more compliant with higher environmental standards. Pipefitters and steamfitters made an annual salary of $49,140 in May 2012.