15 of the Best Types of Environmental Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Environmental jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Environmental Jobs

• Environmental Director

  Salary range: $117,500 - $143,000

  Qualifications to become an environmental director often include a bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental science, engineering, biology, or chemistry. Other qualifications may include managerial experience and outreach skills. The duties of the environmental director include the development and implementation of environmental policies and procedures within a corporation or organization. The planning process may involve conducting sustainability assessments or research, raising funding, or providing education and outreach.

• Freelance Environmental

  Salary range: $50,500 - $128,500

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.

• Environmental Manager

  Salary range: $117,000 - $121,000

  To become an environmental manager, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental science or related field. Study the current government and environmental regulations and master the latest computer modeling and digital mapping programs and technology. You need to be detail-oriented and be able to articulate what the laws mean for your organization, as well as to implement policies to follow those laws. Strong analytical skills are necessary to design and conduct research to develop more effective strategies.

• Executive Environmental

  Salary range: $58,000 - $120,500

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Senior Environmental

  Salary range: $41,500 - $103,000

  Senior Environmental is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Senior Environmental jobs pay between $41,500 (25th percentile) and $103,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Senior Environmental job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Environmental Coordinator

  Salary range: $57,000 - $84,000

  Qualifications needed to become an environmental coordinator include a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or a related field, and at least two years of relevant experience or training. Many employers require certifications such as HAZWOPER, Spill Response, Storm Water, and Asbestos Awareness. You must be able to follow safety documents and maintenance instructions and be able to write reports. It is critical to have excellent communication and presentation skills to explain your findings to groups of customers and regulatory officers. Physical requirements for this position include being able to lift 50 pounds, being comfortable working in adverse weather conditions, and working in high places while being exposed to chemicals and various contaminants.

• From Home Environmental

  Salary range: $56,000 - $80,000

  From Home Environmental is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for From Home Environmental jobs pay between $56,000 (25th percentile) and $80,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for From Home Environmental job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Full Time Environmental

  Salary range: $56,000 - $80,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Environmental Junior

  Salary range: $34,000 - $69,000

  Environmental Junior is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Environmental Junior jobs pay between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $69,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Environmental Junior job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Entry Level Environmental

  Salary range: $32,500 - $52,500

  The qualifications to get an entry-level environmental job can vary greatly based on the type of job and responsibilities you have. Environmental scientists and specialists need to have a bachelor’s degree in a natural science, such as biology, chemistry, or earth sciences. If you are an environmental engineering technician, you need an associate degree. Foresters and conservation experts need to have a bachelor’s degree and an interest in preserving the natural environment. Important skills for all of these jobs include strong written and verbal communication, computer literacy, and analytical thinking.

• Temporary Environmental

  Salary range: $36,000 - $52,500

  A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

• Environmental Trainee

  Salary range: $33,000 - $51,000

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

• Environmental Summer

  Salary range: $34,000 - $43,000

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Internship Environmental

  Salary range: $34,000 - $43,000

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.

• Co Op Environmental

  Salary range: $34,000 - $43,000

  The qualifications you need for a Co-Op job depend on the application requirements at your school and the organization where you want to work. You must be an officially enrolled student at your college or university, and GPA and credit hour requirements are typical. Some companies prefer Co-Op students whose major aligns with the industry. You must have strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and practice a variety of new tasks and job duties. Your responsibilities are to apply your learning to your Co-Op work experience and be a punctual and motivated employee.