{"id":233141,"date":"2010-01-26T18:07:54","date_gmt":"2010-01-26T23:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green.yahoo.com\/blog\/daily_green_news\/273\/fastest-growing-green-jobs.html"},"modified":"2010-01-26T18:07:54","modified_gmt":"2010-01-26T23:07:54","slug":"fastest-growing-green-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/233141","title":{"rendered":"Fastest growing green jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo: Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The following is a guest post by Ezra Drissman of GreenCareersGuide<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you thought 2009 was a year that green took over, then think
\nagain. Over the next 10 years, the green industry is predicted to
\nexperience growth in the neighborhood of 1.5 trillion dollars<\/a>.
\nGreen will continue to shape the foods we eat, the products we buy, and
\nthe way we get around — and increasingly the jobs we have. <\/p>\n

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts<\/a>,
\nby 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across the country accounted for
\nmore than 770,000 jobs in clean energy, “despite a lack of sustained
\ngovernment support in the past decade.” This is expected to increase
\nwith fresh help from the Obama administration. In 2008 alone, private
\ninvestors directed $5.9 billion into American businesses in this
\nsector, a 48% increase over 2007. This rate should continue to
\naccelerate.<\/p>\n

Here are five green careers that are not entirely new, but are now
\nbeing completely reinvented. If you want to keep a competitive
\nadvantage in the workforce, one must learn how these top-growing jobs
\nare “going green.” These fields, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> (BLS), are expected to see a growth from 6% to nearly 30%.<\/p>\n

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Mechanical Engineer<\/h2>\n

$59,000 to $94,000 median <\/strong>salary range<\/strong>, according to the BLS.
\nMechanical engineering will have many opportunities in the future.
\nHowever, you don’t have to wait to start in green areas of this field.
\nNearly all energy areas, including wind and solar, need these
\nengineers. <\/p>\n

You will need a four-year engineering degree to start. If you have
\nyour degree, there are three great websites that can help you work
\ngreen: the American Wind Energy Association<\/a>, the Solar Energy Industries Association<\/a> and the American Solar Energy Society<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Environmental Engineer<\/h2>\n

$56,000 to $94,000 median salary range<\/strong> (BLS).
\nOne of the hardest hit fields in the recent recession has been
\nengineering, due to contractions in the auto industry and
\ninfrastructure spending. Fortunately, this profession has numerous
\napplications in the green field. <\/p>\n

Environmental engineers are
\nexpected to see a 30% increase in jobs over the next ten years. They
\nwill be vital in the wind and solar fields. In addition, environmental
\nengineer technicians and civil engineers should see a 25% growth. <\/p>\n

If you are looking for a job in this field, a great place to start is the American Academy of Environmental Engineers<\/a>. You may also want to plug yourself into the Association of Energy Engineers<\/a>, which offers training for engineers to become energy auditors. <\/p>\n

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Environmental Educator
<\/h2>\n

$47,000 to $50,000 median salary range<\/strong> (BLS). The
\nteaching field is expected to expand by almost 20% in the coming years.
\nWhat’s exciting is that weaving green practices into the classroom is
\nbecoming much more commonplace. Many schools are on the forefront of
\nusing clean energy. And science teachers are in the most demand. <\/p>\n

Beyond the basics like environmental science, many community colleges have expanded offerings in courses like solar panel installation and energy efficient building; universities have expanded environmental policy and politics offerings, often developing entirely new departments and curricula; and graduate programs are routinely offering advanced courses in a range of subjects, like corporate sustainability. There are even green MBA programs. All of these new positions need teachers to fill them. <\/p>\n

Becoming a teacher involves a college diploma and generally a
\nteaching certificate. If you are an out-of-work professional you may
\nwant to consider getting a teaching certificate. While the full degree
\nmay cost you around $8 to $20 thousand a year, a teaching certificate
\nmay cost around half. <\/p>\n

In order to really save money, you might want to consider community
\ncollege first. This will allow you to take general education classes at
\na much more affordable price. Don’t forget that there are plenty of
\nstudent loans available through the federal government<\/a>. A guidance counselor will be able to point you in the right direction. <\/p>\n

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Heating and Cooling Installer<\/h2>\n

$15 to $25\/hour<\/strong> (BLS). If you are looking for a
\ngreat green job and are not interested in the college route, then
\nheating and cooling could be the field for you. It is expected to see
\nmore than 28% growth in the coming years. Being able to install an
\nextremely efficient solar water heater can not only put more money in
\nyour pocket, it will save the customer money in the long term and help
\nthem go green. Installers are able to put some of the most cutting edge
\nenergy-saving products to use right away. <\/p>\n

Another reason for the strong growth is the increasing emphasis on green building, supported by the United States Green Building Council<\/a> and the federal and state and local governments. Heating and cooling play a big role in energy saving. <\/p>\n

For a more specialized training, look into geothermal. One particular training provider in this area is the GeoExchange<\/a>, which can help you find the programs to get started today! <\/p>\n

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Arborist<\/h2>\n

$9 to $14\/hour<\/strong> (BLS). If you want to get a green
\njob outdoors then this may be the career for you. There are many
\nvariations of this job. Tree trimmers, pruners, and landscapers are
\nexpected to see more than 26% growth. Green arborists help protect
\nplants from disease and pests with less-toxic, environmentally friendly
\ntechniques. They can also work to minimize harmful runoff, protect
\nwatersheds, and shade property, which leads to less energy demands for
\ncooling. <\/p>\n

A good place to start learning about the career is the Arbor Day Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finding a green job is getting easier every day. If these don’t work for you, make sure to check out nearly 100 more at Green Careers Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More from The Daily Green<\/strong><\/p>\n