Infographic: Green Job Types and How Much They Pay

By Matthew Wheeland - November 16, 2011

The Tree of Green Jobs

We keep hearing about the green job revolution, but what green jobs are really out there, what do they pay, and what does it take to get one? Here we list nearly 200 green jobs, including many that don’t require a college degree.

Look through the industry segments and job titles below for salary and educational info!

Low-Carbon Power & Renewable Power

Solar Development & Manufacturing Jobs

Solar Fabrication Technician

Salary: $10-15/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Lab Technician

Salary: $19-25/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Solar Hot Water Manufacturing Technician

Salary: $22-27/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Solar Installation & Maintenance Jobs

PV Fabrication and Testing Technician

Salary: $22-27/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Solar Energy System Installer Helper

Salary: $10-15/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Energy System Installer

Salary: $14-20/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar and PV Installation: Roofer

Salary: $15-23/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Residential Installation Electrician

Salary: $17-31
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Residential Installation Electrician Foreman

$25-38/h
HS Diploma/GED

ICE Technician-Instrumentation/Controls/Electrical Systems

Salary: $16-22
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Commercial Installation Electrician

Salary: $17-31/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Commercial Installation Electrician Foreman

Salary: $25-38/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Solar Commercial Installation Engineering Technician

Salary: $20-31/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Solar Commercial Installation Engineer

Salary: $31-50/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Solar Engineering, Design, & Project Management Jobs

Solar Energy Systems Designer

Salary: $22-29/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Solar Thermoelectric Plant Manager

Salary: $74K-$88K/Y
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

PV Solar Cell Designer

Salary: $77K-91K/Y
Education: Advanced Degree

Solar Operations Engineer

Salary: $90K-100K/Y
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Solar Energy Engineer

Salary: $75K-80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

PV Power Systems Engineer

Salary: $76K-88K/Y
Education: Master’s Degree

Solar Sales & Marketing Jobs

Residential/Commercial Solar Sales Consultant

Salary: $45k-$85/Y
Bachelor’s Degree

Wind Development & Manufacturing Jobs

Wind Turbine Machinist

Salary: $12-21/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Wind Turbine Sheet Metal Worker

Salary: $14-22/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Wind Turbine Engineering Intern

Salary: Nominal/School credit
Education: HS Diploma/GED, Some College

Wind Farm Electrical Systems Designer

Salary: $50K-80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wind Turbine Electrical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wind Turbine Mechanical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wind Field Technician

Salary: $13-15/H
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Wind Power Installation & Maintenance Jobs

Junior Renewable Energy Technician

Salary: $15-17/h
Education: None Specified

Wind Generating Installer

Salary: $14-20/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Electro-Mechanical Wind Turbine Technician

Salary: $17-21/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Wind Field Operations Manager for Commercial

Salary: $24-28/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wind Field Service Technician

Salary: $22-26/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Wind Power Engineering, Design, & Project Management Jobs

Wind Power Plant Project Engineer

Salary: $60K-90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Director of Wind Development

Salary: $130K-170K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydro-Electric Power Operations, Development & Manufacturing Jobs

Hydro-Electric Component Machinist

Salary: $12-21/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Hydro-Electric Constructions Sheet Metal Worker

Salary: $14-22/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Hydro-Electric Power Installation & Maintenance Jobs

Hydro-Electric Operations Maintenance Worker

Salary: $21-27/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Hydro-Electric Plant Efficiency Operator

Salary: $23-26/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Hydro-Electric Plant Installation Technician

Salary: $35/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Hydro-Electric Plant Electrical Operations Supervisor

Salary: $78K-92K/Y
Education: Associate’s Degree

Hydro-Electric Power Generation Engineer

Salary: $90K-140K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydro-Electric Power Engineering, Design, & Project Management Jobs

Hydro-Electric Engineering Intern

Salary: Nominal/School Credit
Education: HS Diploma/GED, Some College

Hydrogeologist

Salary: $ $58K-$78K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydro-Electric Mechanical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydro-Electric Electrical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydro-Electric Structural Engineer

Salary: $65-95K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Fisheries Biologist

Salary: $25-32/H
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Power Plants Development & Manufacturing Jobs

Geothermal Heat Pump Machinist

Salary: $12-21/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Geothermal Sheet Metal Worker

Salary: $14-22/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Geothermal Engineering Intern

Salary: Nominal/School credit
Education: HS Diploma/GED, Some College

Geothermal Electrical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Power Generation (Mechanical Engineer)

Salary: $90K-140K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Plant Installation Technician

Salary: Undetermined
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Geothermal Plant Efficiency Operator

Salary: $26-30/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Geothermal Operations Engineer

Salary: $70K-80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Engineering Intern

Salary: Nominal/School credit
Education: HS Diploma/GED, Some College

Hydrogeologist

Salary: $58K-78K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Mechanical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Electrical Engineer

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geothermal Power Plant Structural Engineer

Salary: $67K-$79K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Landfill Gas Collection Operations Jobs

Landfill Gas Collection System Operator

Salary: $20-24/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Landfill Gas to Energy (LGE) Plant Operations Jobs

Landfill Gas System Technician

Salary: $10-15/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

LGE Plant Installation, Operations, Engineering & Management

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Animal Waste to Energy Jobs

Animal Waste Biomethane Gas Collection System Technician

Salary: $20-24/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Biomass Collection & Processing Jobs

Biomass Collection, Separation, & Sorting

Salary: $9-14/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Biomass Power Plant Jobs

Biomass Plant Operations, Engineering, & Maintenance

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydrogen Energy Generation Jobs

Hydrogen Power Plant Installation, Operations, Engineering, & Management

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Hydrogen Plant Operator & Operations Manager

Salary: $37-65/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Carbon Capture & Storage

Geologic Sequestration Jobs

Carbon Capture Power Plant Installation, Operations, Engineering & Management

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Carbon Sequestration Plant Installation, Operations, Engineering & Management

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Geologist & Hydrogeologist

Salary: $58K-85K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

GIS Specialist

Salary: $46K-57K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

CCS Plant Environmental Health & Safety Jobs

Environmental Health & Safety Engineering Manager

Salary: $73K-93K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Health & Safety Engineering Lead

Salary: $81K-96K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Plant Technical Specialist-Instrument Repair Technician

Salary: $64K-$76K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Safety Investigator/Cause Analyst

Salary: $88K-$104K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Plant Supervising Technical Operator

Salary: $27-30/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Plant Safety Engineer

Salary: $90K-107K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Soil Conservation Jobs

Soil Conservation Technician

Salary: $16-24/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Soil Conservationist

Salary: $23-32/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Forestry Jobs

Forestry Conservation Worker

Salary: $15-22/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Conservation Forestry Consultant

Salary: $31-50/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Forestry Supervisor

Salary: $15-30/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Restoration Planner

Salary: $73K-84K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Energy Efficiency & Demand Response

Smart Grid Engineer

Salary: $91K-107K/Y
Education: Advanced Degree

Energy Commission Specialist

Salary: $70K-$83K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Power System Operator

Salary: $25-30/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Green Buildings

Green Building Project Design & Development Jobs

Field Energy Consultant

Salary: $30-35/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Energy Conservation Representative

Salary: $20-32/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Energy Manager & Analyst

Salary: $80K-100K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Energy Efficiency Finance Manager

Salary: $90K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Green Building Design & Engineering Jobs

Engineering Intern

Salary: Nominal/School Credit
Education: HS Diploma/GED, Some College

Water Systems Designer & Engineer

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Site Supervising Technical Operator

Salary: $23-26/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Compliance Specialist

Salary: $20-30/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Refrigeration Engineer

Salary: $30-50/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Lighting & HVAC Engineer

Salary: $77K-91K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Civil Engineer

Salary: $73K-84K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

HVAD Engineer

Salary: $34-50/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Electrical Engineer

Salary: $71K-85K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Residential Green Building & Retrofit Architect

Salary: $90K-107K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Commercial Green Building & Retrofit Architect

Salary: $90K-107K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Indoor & Outdoor Landscape Architect

Salary: $65K-83K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Industrial Green Systems & Retrofit Designer

Salary: $90K-107K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Senior HVAC Engineer

Salary: $75K-120K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Construction Engineer

Salary: $100K-150K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Energy Engineer

Salary: $75K-80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Structural Design Engineer

Salary: $75K-88K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Installation & Green Building Operations Jobs

Home Improvement Retrofit Trainee

Salary: $15-17/h
Education: High School Student

Residential Air Sealing Technician

Salary: Undetermined
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Insulation Engineer

Salary: $10-12/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

HVAC Maintenance/Repair Trainee

Salary: $15-20/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Water Purification Systems Service Technician

Salary: $20-23/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Building Maintenance Engineer

Salary: $30-40/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Machinist

Salary: $12-21/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Welder

Salary: $12-20/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Carpenter

Salary: $17-21/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Electrical System Installer

Salary: $21-27/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Field Technician

Salary: $22-40/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Green Plumber and Pipefitter

Salary: $28-37/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

HVAC Service Technician

Salary: $24-29/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Roofing and Skylight Installer

Salary: $20-37/h
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Weatherization Operations Manager

Salary: $71K-102K/Y
Education: None Specified

Energy Efficiency Services Jobs

Residential Energy Field Auditor

Salary: $12-14/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Commercial Energy Field Auditor

Salary: $12-14/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Industrial Energy Field Auditor

Salary: $12-14/h
Education: Associate’s Degree

Auditing Services Sales Consultant

Salary: $45K-85K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Renewable Energy Consultant

Salary: Varies with experience
Education: Advanced Degree

Transportation

Automotive Plant Operations- Vehicle Production & Modification Jobs

Automotive Plant Assembly

Salary: Varies with experience
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Diesel Retrofit Installer

Salary: Varies with experience
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Diesel Retrofit Manufacturer Plant Labor

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Trade School or Apprenticeship

Electric Vehicle Electrician

Salary: $22-26/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Hybrid Powertrain Development Engineer

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Powertrain Control Systems & Software Engineer

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Air Pollution Specialist

Salary: $64-74/K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Senior Automotive Power Electronics Engineer

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Diesel Retrofit Designer

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Master’s Degree

Efficient Mass Transit Vehicle Operations Jobs

Bus System Operator

Salary: $11-17/h
Education: None required

Train System Operator

Salary: $20-24/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Electric Shipyard Operator

Salary: $20-24/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Biofuel Production Jobs

Biofuel Plant Field & Operations Engineer

Salary: $70K-80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Biofuel Plant Field Technician

Salary: Undetermined
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Biodiesel/Biofuel Technology & Product Development Manager

Salary: Varies with experience
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Alternative Fuels Policy Analyst & Business Sales

Salary: $60K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Civil Engineer-Agriculture/Irrigation/Water Supply

Salary: $80K-120K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Transportation System Design Jobs

Urban Planner

Salary: $25-35/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Engineering Manager

Salary: $62K-82K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Planner

Salary: $30-37/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Civil Engineer

Salary: $73K-84K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Energy Infrastructure Engineer

Salary: $77K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Climate Change & Adaptation

Climate Studies Jobs

Climatologist

Salary: $65K-85K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Scientist

Salary: $65K-85K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Enginner/Scientist Intern

Salary: Nominal/School Credit
Education: HS Diploma/GED, Some College

Environmental Sampling Technician

Salary: $16-22/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Public Sector/Government

Conservation & Pollution Prevention Jobs

Biologist- Marine/Fisheries

Salary: $25-32/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Water Resource Engineer

Salary: $65K-74K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Research Manager

Salary: $40/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

GIS Specialist

Salary: $46K-57K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Engineering Geologist

Salary: $31-37/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Urban Planner

Salary: $25-35/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Urban Renewal Planner

Salary: $73K-$80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Conservation of Resources Commissioner

Salary: $82K-$113K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Power System Operator & Instructor

Salary: $25-30/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Pollution Prevention, Rule Development & Enforcement Jobs

Air Quality Specialist & Enforcement Officer

Salary: $30-37/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Air Emissions Permitting Engineer

Salary: $30-40/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Chemist

Salary: $65K-74K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Economist

Salary: $74K-87K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Consulting & Research

Environmental Consulting Jobs

Air Quality Control Engineer

Salary: $80K-120K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Senior Environmental Consultant

Salary: $78K-93K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Water/Wastewater Quality Consultant

Salary: $72K-92K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Water Resource Consultant

Salary: $72K-92K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Air Resource Engineer

Salary: $72K-85K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Air Pollution Specialist

Salary: $64K-74K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Waste Reduction Consultants/Energy Efficiency Consultant

Salary: $60K-80K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report Verifier

Salary: $50K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental Technician

Salary: $40K-53K/Y
Education: Associate’s Degree

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Permitting Consultant

Salary: Varies with experience
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Renewable Energy Consultant

Salary: Undetermined
Education: Advanced Degree

Waste Reduction & Management

Municipal Waste & Recycling Operations Jobs

Recycling Collections Driver

Salary: $9-12/h
Education: None specified

Recycling Center Operator

Salary: $11-18/h
Education: None specified

Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

Salary: $20-25/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Hazardous Waste Management Specialist

Salary: $25-30/h
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Solid Waste [Energy] Engineer

Salary: $76K-84K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Nuclear Waste Management Engineer

Salary: $89K-106K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wastewater Treatment & Management Jobs

Operations Maintenance Worker for Water Services

Salary: $17-22/h
Education: HS Diploma/GED

Associate Engineer – Wastewater Treatment

Salary: $70K-84K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wastewater Engineer in Refinery

Salary: $75K-100K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Wastewater Plant Civil Engineer

Salary: $74K-82K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Non-profit sector

Climate Change & Energy Policy Specialist & Advocate

Salary: $30K/Y
Education: Master’s Degree

Water Resource Policy Specialist & Advocate

Salary: $30K/Y
Education: Master’s Degree

Conservation Policy Analyst & Advocate

Salary: $30K/Y
Education: Bachelor’s Degree