Salary: 22-25$ an hour

Conduct prescribed burns, manage and prepare fire equipment, and monitor post-burn impact on the environment

Participate in partnerships with the government, the local fire department, and indigenous communities

Requirements: HS diploma, minimal needed experience, to obtain required certifications (first aid, fire safety, etc).

Salary: $70,000-$80,000 annually 

Requires field experience in forest, meadow and grassland management, arboriculture, invasive and native species management, habitat restoration, wildlife management, and related outreach and education.

Requirements: Needs 3 years of work experience and a BS degree in Natural Resources Management, Forestry, or a similar degree

Salary based on experience

Outdoor work focused on performing identification, inspection, and evaluation of trees along utility lines. 

Requirements: A 2-4 year degree in forestry or Natural Resources is required [unless you have a combination of applicable experience and a high school diploma.] 

Salary: 20.00/ hr - also depends on experience and qualifications

Monitoring the ecological conditions of wetland and stream projects

Collecting and analyzing conditions, entering data into spreadsheets

Requirements: HS diploma/GED, 1 year of professional training in Environmental Science, experience in working outside, ability to identify native/invasive plants

Salary: $75,000 - $120,000

Leading and managing projects, keeping a close partnership with regional partners for the organization, and reporting information about projects to the director

Requirements: BA/BS and 7 years in conservation or related field, experience in directing projects, experience in negotiating, specifically with government officials

Salary: Around $54,000 starting salary

Enforce environmental and conservation laws and policies in Virginia. They patrol the “geographical expanses of the Commonwealth,” enforce hunting, fishing, and boating laws, educate the public, and offer assistance to a variety of other police projects.

Requirements: Must work holidays, must meet fitness requirements, must have prior knowledge/training in law enforcement.

Resources: VA Department of Wildlife Resources 

Salary: $56,000-$69,000 annually

Assisting attorneys with filing court commissions and comments to state agencies

Researching court rules, reviewing written documents, and verifying citations of records

• Collecting and reviewing documents given through a public record request

General work: In the office

Requirements: Bachelor's degree and 3 years of legal experience

Resources: Southern Environmental Law Center

Salary: $91,000 to $94,000 + government benefits

Leads a large environmental health team that conducts regulatory operations. 

Requirements: Knowledge of environmental health programs, a Bachelor's in a relevant field like environmental science, or public health. 

Salary: $65,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on firm or location

Legally advocate for environmental regulations that the company stands behind

Work with clients through the legal process and advise them on government affairs and legal matters

General work: In the office

Requirements: Bar membership in good standing with the state, a law degree, 5 years of previous experience with another law firm

Salary: $106,000- $125,000

The role involves contributing to the transition away from nonrenewable energy.

Requirements: 8 years of experience in policy/strategy development and research analysis

Resources: UVA's Weldon Cooper Center - UVA Renewable Energy Research

Salary: 70,000 to 90,000 -  Unlimited paid time off + other benefits 

Research, lobby, and track the federal government and key state elected officials.

Requirements: 3 years of relevant experience in political research. Minimum of a high school degree.

Resources: Virginia League of Conservation Voters tracks the state legislature on their stances on climate issues

Salary: $81,000 - $ 90,000

They join a team of litigation support staff who provide services to attorneys practicing in state and federal courts (for a climate justice nonprofit). 

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree

Salary: $100,000 to 150,000 base salary

A fundraising specialist who creates infrastructure for individual giving work. Train climate nonprofit members on individual giving strategies.

Requirements: Mid-level work experience and a bachelor’s degree

Salary: N/A

The teacher is responsible for creating a classroom environment where students engage in maritime engineering, environmental science, and global logistics through real- world, hands-on learning experience. Tasked with developing lesson plans, ensuring proper assessment of student growth, and more. 

Requirements: Have either a Bachelors or Masters degree in STEM education or a related field and must hold a teaching license.

Salary: $70,000-$90,000 annually

Communications associate assists the communications team, drafts press materials or talking points, and organizes calls with the press at a climate organization. Holds “big oil” responsible for climate change through effective advocacy with the press.

Requirements: College degree, three years of relevant experience in the field

Salary: $85,000 - $95,000 based on education, work experience

Manages the Green Labs outreach program and contributes to a university's goal for reducing GHG emissions

Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a related field, 7 years in professional research

Salary: $15 an hour

Temporary. Work with a non-profit to educate at a Nature Park. Educate elementary, middle, and high school students on things such as ecology, water quality testing, native plants, and more. 

Requirements: There are no educational requirements for this job.

Salary: $115,000- $130,000 annually

Provide leadership, support, and coordination to climate organizations' professional program staff, ensuring effective implementation of strategic plans at a climate council/non-profit/for-profit

Requirements: Hybrid job, Bachelor's degree in a relevant field like Environmental science, public policy, environmental studies, non-profit management, administrative science, etc. 

Salary: $40,000 to $100,000

Design sustainable homes, communities, and businesses. 

They use strategies to improve water and energy efficiencies, and they utilize environmentally friendly products.

Requirements: Bachelor's degree is typically required

Resources: Viridiant

Salary: $46,000 to $96,000 annually

Oversees construction relating to sustainability / green construction

Direct projects to incorporate sustainable management techniques and reach the environmental impact goals targeted in them

Requirements: High school diploma or GED, Four-year degree in a relevant field, 3-5 years of prior work experience in the job field

Salary: $39,000 to $80,000 annually

Conduct energy audits to maximize energy efficiency with safety, comfort, and the environment in residential/commercial applications

Requirements: Usually needs a relevant bachelor's degree (physics, energy/electrical engineering degree)

Resources: Viridiant , LEAP

Salary: $100,000-$130,000 annually

Search and analyze different environments for issues, progress on solutions, or possible solutions through projects

Requirements: BS in engineering or related field, Preferred: licensure, previous work experience

• Salaries: $90,000 - $100,000 annually, along with benefits

• This job includes contributing to the development of solutions to meet goals for reducing GHG emissions.

• Supports and innovates practices with conservation of energy, water, and material resources in mind. Performs energy audits and technical analyses of intended buildings. 

• Requirements: Bachelor’s in some field of engineering or related, 4 years of professional experience working in an engineering-related field

• Preferred experiences: Licensed as a PE (professional engineer), Experience with HVAC, Experience with energy modeling software

• Resources: UVA Sustaianability

Salary: Equivalent to experience 

Implement factors in different construction designs for future and current buildings to help deal with stormwater excess. Evaluate construction areas for current and future floodplain conditions. Permit and analyze state-sponsored dams 

Requirements: 6 years working in related field, Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field, Professional engineer license (for Virginia)

Resources: Gordon

Salary: $34,000 to $85,000

Install photovoltaic systems to convert solar power into energy 

Requirements: High school diploma + vocational school ( or other forms of training), few positions require any formal college degree (if so would be associates/bachelors in engineering or related field), NABCEP, PV associate, other certifications vary per state (fall safety, etc.)

FLIPP Inc. training program provides certifications (see FLIPP Inc. Page on this Resources Guide)

Resources: NABCEP

Salary: $30 - $41/hour

Focused on repairing, diagnosing, maintaining, and fixing electric vehicles.

Requirements: At least 2 years of experience as an automotive service technician is required, and an ASE certification is preferred.

Resources:  Training and Information Link

Salary: $110,000 - $130,000 base + bonus

Leads solar developments in housing installations, models financial returns, structures finances, and oversees installation/contractors

Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science, may need graduate degree depending on role

Salaries: $23,000 - $110,000, usually based on commission (depends on experience, types of real estate, agency, and contract)

Helps clients purchase, rent, and sell properties with sustainable features.

Requirements: NAR green realtor designation, high school diploma + real estate examination

Salary: $32,000 - $100,000

Real Estate Appraisers with sustainable building expertise analyze and prepare reports on a property's value, taking into account the market value of energy-efficient features

Requirements: Prefers an associate's/bachelor's degree + work experience 

Salary: $50,000 to $100,000

Reduces carbon emissions and promotes sustainability in business. They can have a high impact on reducing corporate emissions in a measurable way.

Requirements: Bachelor's Degree is preferred in Environmental Science, Business, or other related fields

Salary: $45,000-$50,500 

Works with farmers to improve water quality and agricultural management practices. This job requires a lot of work outdoors. 

Requirements: Some field experience is required.

Salary: $20 an hour

Work in food manufacturing plants to lead, train and supervise food quality control technicians to stick with federal food regulations, coordinate training, and improve current policies to better align with what is federally regulated. This job category is not exclusively green, but there is a need for these roles in the green workforce.

Requirements: Expected to have a Bachelors degree in Food Science or a related field, with a minimum of 2 years of experience in food safety

Salary: $90k-$100k annually

Lead the day to day operations at a fermentation facility. As a biomanufacturing leader, you are tasked with being responsible for the success of the bio-based products created through fermentation. Supervise day to day activities, operate and maintain bioreactors, train technicians, and more. This job category is not exclusively green, but there is a need for these roles in the green workforce, such as fermentation facilities in companies that focus on sustainable crop solutions.

Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a related field. As well as 3 years of experience in a fermentation facility

Resources: Senate Biotech Link

Salary: $80,000 to $150,000

Work with researchers to examine trade-offs in the combination of solar power and agriculture. Track, analyze, and present findings from research into agrivoltaics projects. 

Requirements: Bachelor's degree

Salary: $77,000 - $83,000 annually

Leadership position making plant-based food more normalized in public spaces.

Requirements: At least 5 years of culinary leadership experience in an institutional food service setting [ex: culinary director,] a culinary degree, and experience creating menus

Salary: $82,000 to $150,000 

Pre-clinical scientist who works in research and development at a cultivated meats company. Leads the design, execution, and oversight of cultivated meats studies. This job category is not exclusively green, but there is a need for these roles in the green workforce.

Requirements: 2-5 years of hands-on experience in pre-clinical studies. Generally needs a bachelor’s degree in (biology, chemistry, related field) and may need a (PhD)