Careers: environmental technician, occupational safety specialist, solar panel installer, wind turbine technician, and water treatment plant operator. Majors: Environmental Science and Sustainability, Occupational Safety and Health, Renewable Energy Technology, Environmental Engineering, and Forestry and Natural Resources.
College majors for environmental and sustainability careers
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Studies the environment and how to protect natural resources and human health.
Occupational Safety and Health
Teaches you to identify workplace hazards and protect workers from injury and illness.
Renewable Energy Technology
Prepares you to install, maintain and manage solar, wind and other clean energy systems.
Environmental Engineering
Designs systems that protect air, water and land from pollution.
Forestry and Natural Resources
Studies how to manage forests, wildlife, parks and natural resources.
Building Science and Construction Technology
Studies how buildings are designed, built and maintained to perform well.
HVAC Technology
Teaches you to install and service heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Geology and Earth Sciences
Studies the Earth: rocks, water, soil, natural resources and natural hazards.
Careers in environmental and sustainability careers
Environmental Technician
Collect and test air, water and soil samples to monitor pollution and protect health.
- Typical training: About 2 years
Occupational Safety Specialist
Find workplace hazards, train workers and keep companies compliant with OSHA.
- Typical training: 2–4 years
Solar Panel Installer
Install and maintain rooftop and ground-mounted solar energy systems.
- Typical training: 1–6 months
Wind Turbine Technician
Climb, inspect, maintain and repair wind turbines that generate clean power.
- Typical training: 6–24 months
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Run the plants and systems that clean drinking water and treat wastewater.
- Typical training: Months to years (on the job + certification)
Conservation Technician
Measure forests, maintain trails and help manage land, wildlife and water resources.
- Typical training: 2 years
Environmental Health Specialist
Inspect restaurants, pools, water and housing to protect public health.
- Typical training: 4 years
Hazardous Materials Technician
Safely remove and clean up asbestos, lead, chemicals and other hazardous materials.
- Typical training: 1–4 weeks of required training
Refuse Collector
Collect trash, recycling and yard waste to keep communities clean and healthy.
- Typical training: 1–8 weeks
Skills these careers use
- Environmental sampling methods
- Field instrument calibration
- Chain-of-custody documentation
- Stormwater and compliance inspection
- OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926)
- Hazard recognition and job hazard analysis
Minors that fit this interest
- Environmental Studies: Adds knowledge of environmental issues, policy and sustainability.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Adds mapping and spatial data analysis skills.
- Occupational Safety: Adds knowledge of workplace hazards, OSHA rules and safety programs.
- Renewable Energy: Adds knowledge of solar, wind, storage and clean energy systems.
- Sustainability: Adds knowledge of resource use, clean energy and sustainable practices.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what environmental technicians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: environmental sampling methods, field instrument calibration, and chain-of-custody documentation
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Environmental and Sustainability Careers
A self-paced online course on what occupational safety specialists do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926), hazard recognition and job hazard analysis, and incident investigation and root cause analysis
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Environmental and Sustainability Careers
A self-paced online course on what water treatment plant operators do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: treatment processes, water chemistry and lab testing, and SCADA monitoring
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Environmental and Sustainability Careers
A self-paced online course on what conservation technicians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: timber cruising, tree identification, and GPS and GIS
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Environmental and Sustainability Careers
Environmental and Sustainability Careers: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in environmental and sustainability careers?
Careers connected to environmental and sustainability careers include environmental technician, occupational safety specialist, solar panel installer, wind turbine technician, water treatment plant operator, conservation technician, environmental health specialist, and hazardous materials technician.
What should I major in if I am interested in environmental and sustainability careers?
Majors connected to environmental and sustainability careers include Environmental Science and Sustainability, Occupational Safety and Health, Renewable Energy Technology, Environmental Engineering, Forestry and Natural Resources, and Building Science and Construction Technology. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What environmental and sustainability careers careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include environmental technician, solar panel installer, wind turbine technician, water treatment plant operator, conservation technician, and hazardous materials technician. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which environmental and sustainability careers careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include occupational safety specialist, environmental health specialist, and safety engineer. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in environmental and sustainability careers?
Skills that come up often in these careers include environmental sampling methods, field instrument calibration, chain-of-custody documentation, stormwater and compliance inspection, OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926), and hazard recognition and job hazard analysis, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in environmental and sustainability careers?
Minors connected to environmental and sustainability careers include Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Occupational Safety, Renewable Energy, and Sustainability.
How do I start a career in environmental and sustainability careers?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore environmental and sustainability careers careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in environmental and sustainability careers involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to environmental and sustainability careers?
Yes. Related online trainings include Environmental Technician Training, Occupational Safety Specialist Training, Water Treatment Plant Operator Training, and Conservation Technician Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to environmental and sustainability careers?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.