Business & Policy Economics High Paying Green Jobs By Melissa Hincha-Ownby Writer Arizona State University Melissa Hincha-Owny is a business writer who has covered topics ranging from personal finance and corporate social responsibility to parenting. our editorial process Melissa Hincha-Ownby Updated February 11, 2020 Need a green job that pays well? A conservation scientist may work for you (provided you have the correct training, of course). (Photo: Steve Jurvetson [CC BY 2.0]/Flickr) Share Twitter Pinterest Email Business & Policy Corporate Responsibility Environmental Policy Economics Food Issues Proponents of green jobs have touted the trend as a pathway out of poverty for millions of Americans. On the other side of the coin, naysayers claim that green jobs come with a significantly reduced salary and will only add to the country’s economic woes. However, not all green jobs are entry-level and moderate paying. Forbes magazine has a list of 10 green jobs that come with a six-figure salary. Chief Sustainability Officer Environmental Engineer Environmental Lawyer Climatologist/Environmental Meteorologist Renewable Energy Manager Environmental Specialist/Scientist Senior Urban Planner Commercial/Industrial Designer Conservation Scientist Senior Hydrologist “In further proof that it's possible to support the environment while living a comfortable lifestyle, postings for environment-related jobs on TheLadders.com, a job search site for $100,000-a-year and more jobs, have increased by 25% over the past year.” Source: Forbes Unfortunately, TheLadders.com requires a paid subscription to view any of their job listing and since I’m not in the market for a new job, I decided to do some salary research on other websites. According to the California Association of Professional Scientists, a high-ranking environmental scientist at the University of California Lawrence Berkeley Labs earned more than $120,000 in 2008. The Forbes article explains that attorneys practicing environmental law can easily have salaries in excess of $145,000 per year, similar to attorneys practicing other specialties. As you can see, these jobs require advanced college degrees. If you aren’t already in a position to enter one of these ten six-figure green jobs, check out the green college honor roll for their eco-focused degree programs. Learning about sustainable design or environmental science at an institution that practices what they preach is a great way to expose yourself to the benefits of a green job, first-hand.