For some people, the thought of sitting at a desk all day in front of a computer is abhorrent: they would much rather spend their time outside, under the sky, moving around from one place to another to keep themselves happy. Often, those same people think that they can’t make a living doing such jobs.
The good news is that there are plenty of careers that take you outside, and you can make a great living doing them. There’s no reason at all to forsake your dreams and aspirations of avoiding an office job just because you think there’s no money to be had with an outdoor career. Not only can you make a lot of money, there are a wide variety of careers where working outside is standard practice.
Is the Outdoors for You?
Before you decide to jump into a career that takes you outdoors, you need to really understand what that means. Sure, you may enjoy a nice walk or hike, but working outside is very different than going outside for fun and leisure.
One of the biggest concerns with working outdoors is that you will be expected to do your job no matter what the weather is like. That means you will have to endure rain, snow and possibly freezing temperatures along with the nice, sunny days. If you haven’t spent much time outdoors in bad weather, try it first before you consider taking an outdoor job; you may be surprised/
You will also be expected to stay in decent physical shape. Some jobs require that you travel great distances by foot, sometimes several miles in unfriendly terrain, so you must always stay in good health. Finally, expect every day to be different. You never know what you’re going to get outdoors, so if routine is important to you, you may not always find it outdoors.
If these things sound good to you, however, then grab your safety boots and read about three great outdoor professions.
Construction Manager
A construction manager is one of the highest paying outdoor careers, with a mean income of nearly $100,000. You can find jobs in nearly any area of the country you’d like to live in, so you’re not pigeon-holed into a few industry specific locations.
Construction managers are responsible for a team of workers that build commercial buildings, houses and even infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads. You will need to have good people skills as well as understand how to stay within budgets and meet project deadlines.
You can become a construction manager with as little as a high school diploma, although you will need a good amount of construction experience. A Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management or architecture can get you on the fast track to this rewarding outdoor career.
Geographer
Geographers travel to different areas of the world and study the physical features of different regions. They can study anything from rock formations, plant and animal life, to minerals and water features. They can also make a good wage: the average salary in the United States is just under $80,000.
There are many different types of geographers. Besides the physical geographers you are most familiar with, there are cultural geographers, who study the relationship between languages, cultures and the geography around them, as well as medical geographers, who study diseases in relation to the surrounding physical environment.
You will have to get a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in order to become a geographer, and in many cases you will have to get a Master’s degree. Volunteer experience and internships can help you as well.
Environmental Scientist
This is another great-paying outdoor job, with an average salary of $68,000. Environmental scientists study the environment and help find solutions to problems such as water pollution, animal diseases and plant die offs. They study the soil, air and water sources to determine where problems arise and what can be done about them.
Environmental scientists can also advise governments and business on their practices, so they can stay within regulations and avoid contaminating the environment and paying fines.
A Bachelor’s degree in environmental science is the minimum amount of schooling you will need, although, in some cases, you may get a degree in chemistry, biology or other physical scientist field instead.
Don’t avoid an outdoor career just because you think you won’t make any money. Look into these fields more and get out there!
Richard Bartley works closely with young people entering an apprenticeship. He writes about career options for teens and young adults who know that office work is not for them.
