Rewarding Career Opportunities for Outdoors Enthusiasts

This summer, 22 teenagers from California’s Bay Area, Butte County and Plumas County got paid to spend a month in the woods helping restore areas damaged by recent wildfires, the Sacramento Bee reported. The restoration effort was part of a program to help damaged areas recover by introducing local and inner-city youths to natural resource management. During their time in the woods, the youths were introduced to specialists working in a number of outdoor occupations, including outdoor recreation specialists, timber managers and fisheries biologists. The kids commented on how good it felt to work outside, and some felt inspired to pursue outdoor careers they had never realized were available before.

If you like working outside, you might also be surprised to learn about some of the opportunities that are available to earn good money outdoors while pursuing a rewarding career that makes a difference.

Environmental Scientist

If you enjoy studying the great outdoors as well as being outside, you might find work as an environmental scientist rewarding. Environmental scientists use applied knowledge of natural science to fight pollution, improve the environment, and protect human, animal and plant populations. They spend part of their time in the field gathering data from locations such as forests, wetlands and fisheries, and part of their time in labs and offices analyzing data.

The mean annual wage for an environmental scientist in 2014 was $72,050, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. To become an environmental scientist, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field. Environmental scientists often work for government agencies or for private companies that need to comply with government regulations. The locations hiring the highest concentration of environmental scientists are Alaska, the District of Columbia, Wyoming, Washington and Vermont.

Landscape Architect

If you’ve got a love for the outdoors along with an eye for design, you might consider a career as a landscape architect. Landscape architecture specialists help plan and design land area use for a variety of outdoor spaces, including public parks and recreational facilities, private homes, schools and businesses. Landscape architects divide their time between working at outdoor sites and drawing architectural plans indoors, so you get a nice balance between indoor and outdoor work.

The mean annual wage for a landscape architect is currently $69,530, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which projects demand for workers in landscape architecture to grow 14 percent over the decade ending in 2022. Most states require landscape architects to pass a licensing exam after earning a four-year degree; the American Society of Landscape Architects offers more information about licensure. Employers of landscape architects include government agencies, businesses, educational institutions and home owners. The states with the densest percentage of landscape architect job opportunities are South Dakota, Washington, Minnesota, Oregon and Georgia.

Surveyor

Every piece of real estate on earth needs a surveyor. Working with other specialists such as landscape designers and civil engineers, surveyors measure land to determine boundary properties. Surveyors spend part of their time outdoors surveying sites as well as time in an office preparing documents.

A surveyor’s mean annual wage is currently $60,310, according to BLS data. Surveyors need a bachelor’s degree and a license. Real estate, mortgage and construction companies frequently hire surveyors. Surveying jobs are in high demand in Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Louisiana. Visit BeASurveyor.com for a map highlighting all the state licensing boards.

Recreational Worker

If you like being outdoors at campgrounds and parks, you can earn money doing what you love by being a recreational worker. Recreational workers help design and lead tourist activities for volunteer agencies and facilities such as playgrounds, senior centers, camps, parks and aquatic centers. They lead activities such as camping, hiking, sports, and arts and crafts.

The mean average wage for recreational workers is currently $25,830, the BLS reports. Educational requirements vary by job, but some positions require a bachelor’s degree. These workers are needed at recreation centers, parks, summer camps and resorts, and cruise ships employ recreational workers as well. Jobs for recreational workers are most highly concentrated in Vermont, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Wyoming.

Shooting Instructor

If you’re an expert hunter, an outdoor job you might find rewarding is being a shooting instructor. Shooting instructors train hunters, self-defense students, law enforcement agencies, military agencies and stunt actors.

A firearms instructor earns an average salary of $49,000 a year, according to SimplyHired. To become a firearms instructor, you normally go through a certification program with an organization such as the NRA or pursue an apprenticeship under an established expert. Professional firearms trainer Kathy Jackson recommends that after getting basic NRA certification, you should pursue additional volunteer apprenticeship opportunities and training with professional facilities such as Gunsite, Thunder Ranch or Rangemaster. Such organizations hire shooting instructors to teach for them, and you can also start your own business. Good places to work as a shooting instructor are states with high populations of gun owners, led by Kentucky, Utah, Montana, West Virginia and Alaska. Female instructors are currently in high demand. You can view the necessary shooting gear and supplies for this career at Cabelas.com.

Sports Coaches and Scouts

If you’re a fan of outdoor sports, you may enjoy earning money as a sports coach or scout. Coaches work with athletes and athletic teams to help players develop their skills, while coaches help teams recruit new players; some people do both. Coaching and scouting positions require travel as part of the job.

Coaches and scouts earn a mean annual wage of $39,150, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For most jobs, you need a minimum of a high school diploma, plus expertise in your sport, but you’ll increase your job prospects if you have a degree in a sports-related area such as sports science, nutrition or exercise, as well as certification or licensing from a recognized board. Coaches and scouts work for high schools, colleges, professional sports organizations, individual athletes (such as golfers) and businesses. Coaching and sporting jobs are available everywhere people play sports. Visit the job boards at Indeed.com to get an idea of what’s out there.