Top 15 Outdoor Jobs That Pay Well

What Industries Have Jobs Where You Work Outside?

Working at a desk is not for everyone. Luckily, there are a range of jobs that require staff to work outdoors.

If you want a physically active job based outdoors, pursuing a career in these areas is a great way of achieving this.

Some industries that need staff outside include:

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Leisure and hospitality
• Civil engineering

If you are a hands-on person who wants a job to fit this lifestyle, this article is for you.

We will cover the range of benefits you will get from working outside and suggest 15 great jobs you can start pursuing today.

What Are the Benefits of Working Outdoors?

Here are the top reasons why a job outdoors can be good for you.

Health and Wellbeing

Working outside is good physical activity. You will not be stuck behind a desk for hours at a time.

As you move more and work with heavy equipment, you will get in better shape.

There is a good chance that you will be interacting with different environments. Being out in nature while you exercise is great for your mental wellbeing.

You will also be more open to interacting with people as you will feel better about yourself. You will be more open to having conversations and meeting new people at work.

Sociability

Not only will you be interacting with new people and different environments, but a lot of outdoor careers also involve working with animals.

Having the opportunity to work with wildlife will be meditative; you will have the time to reflect upon yourself and your relationships.

The people you work alongside will likely have the same interests as you. In an office space, you can be bunched together with a range of different personalities. It is unlikely that you will get on with everyone.

However, when you work outside, you will be working with people who have similar career interests and hobbies. It is therefore likely that you will make better friends in an outside working environment.

Job Satisfaction

With all 15 careers outlined below, there is a good opportunity to excel and grow your skills.

You may also have the opportunity to start your own business. For example, if you are working as a forester, you will get insight into how to start a business for yourself.

Because you are choosing a career that benefits your wellbeing and improves your social circle, you will be more likely to enjoy the work.

This is a fundamental part of job satisfaction. The work is arguably harder, but if you are looking forward to turning up to work, you will perform better and achieve better results.

As you achieve more at work, your salary will likely increase and your lifestyle will improve as a consequence.

Salary

The salaries of each position for the US are discussed below, but it is worth bearing in mind that a career working outdoors can pay well.

Many of the jobs listed require specialized science degrees. There are not many people with these advanced qualifications, so they tend to pay well.

Because you will be using heavy equipment and will be working longer hours, the overall salary will be higher than a standard office job.

Some outdoor jobs are considered dangerous, and the salaries are higher to attract the right personnel.

15 Well-Paid Outdoor Jobs

1. Forester

Average salary: Around $62,000 annually

As a forester, you will play an important role in land conservation, rehabilitation and wildlife management.

You will be responsible for planting new trees and removing excess debris. You will also observe how wildlife grows and thrives in a managed area to determine the success of conservation efforts.

A forester role suits anyone with a love for wildlife conservation. Degrees in this field or in a biology field will serve you well.

2. Park Ranger

Average salary: Around $39,000 each year, but the top 10% of this role earn around $85,000 annually, making it a very profitable career if you can specialize

Park rangers patrol restricted grounds and private conservation areas. They make sure that everything is running smoothly.

It is a very thorough job as park rangers must often conduct and collaborate in any ongoing investigations.

A park ranger needs to be meticulous. You do not necessarily need a degree for this career, but the right experience will lead you to the top.

Park rangers can work for national conservation sites or within the private sphere. Careers tend to last a long time and are rewarding.

3. Photographer

Average salary: $30,000 to $75,000 a year. There is a large gulf in earnings because of the wide variety of ways in which photographers can work.

A photographer can easily adapt their work to make it suitable for an outdoor career.

They can become a wildlife conservation photographer, or they could work with architectural firms.

Choosing where to specialize is dependent on the photographer’s personal interests and talents.

If they prefer to focus on portrait photography and human interactions, they can adapt this to outdoor settings and events.

A strong portfolio determines how well a photographer is paid. An arts degree goes well with a career in photography.

As a photographer, you get a lot of opportunities to work as a freelancer to have complete control over the contracts and commissions you take.

If you want an artistic career with the complete freedom to choose how you interact with the outside world, becoming a photographer might be the best option.

4. Marine Biologist

Average salary: Around $42,000 each year

This is a rewarding and exciting career.

You will be responsible for marine conservation, conducting scientific experiments into animal and plant behavior, and particularly involved with environmental matters.

You will need a degree in marine biology or any animal-related field. The best marine biologists are caring and thorough conservation scientists.

5. Zoologist

Average salary: $63,000 a year. Zoologists make good money because of the demands of the role.

Like the marine biologist, the zoologist also monitors human impact on animal populations and observes specific animal behaviors.

You will need a degree in zoology or a related field, and experience working directly with animals.

Zoologists are also involved in reducing animal captivity and ensuring they have the right environments to live in.

6. Logging Equipment Operator

Average salary: Around $68,000 annually

In forestry, there is a lot of advanced equipment that needs calibrating and repairing. It also needs to be used safely.

A logging equipment operator ensures that these needs are met.

The demands of the job are tough, and it can be considered a dangerous role because of the equipment you will be working with.

A degree in an engineering-related field and experience working as a forester can lead you to a successful career as a logging equipment operator.

7. Outdoor Adventure Writer

Average salary: Around $51,000 each year

As an adventure writer, you will have an exciting career. You will be responsible for contributing content to newspapers and magazines on conservation and wildlife stories.

You will also have freedom in where you write.

Writing in the outdoors is certainly a different career than working behind an office desk. You must have a talent for writing. A degree in an arts-related field can also help you with this career.

8. Outdoor Educator

Average salary: Around $35,000 each year. Outdoor educators are involved with seasonal and temporary work as well.

If you like working in summer camps and adventure retreats, this could be a perfect career for you.

The role of an outdoor educator is to manage groups and give wildlife and conservation tours.

Outgoing, extroverted people usually perform well in these roles. You do not need a degree to start a career in this field, but make sure that you have experience working in holiday and summer camps.

9. Mountaineering Instructor

Average salary: Around $47,000 annually, but the real reward comes with the job itself

Rock-climbing instructors and mountaineering experts have a love for adventure and adrenaline-based thrills.

You will oversee the safety of dangerous tasks and excursions.

You get to interact with some of the most impressive landscapes across the world. There are also great opportunities to travel with this position.

A degree in geography may give you the backbone of knowledge you need, but it is not an essential qualification.

What really matters is having the right safety certifications and qualifications. Belay testing and orienteering are some of the essential skills you will need to make this career a success.

10. Meteorologist

Average salary: Around $80,000 a year

Meteorologists closely monitor climate data and analyze weather patterns to predict events such as storms and floods.

They are well qualified and often have a degree in geography and science-related fields.

If you have a talent for research and analysis, this may be the career for you.

11. Conservation Scientist

Average salary: Around $63,000 a year

A conservation scientist plays a key role in wildlife development and conservation.

They are responsible for managing the quality of forests, and they conduct experiments to determine the overall quality of parks and rangelands.

They usually have a research-related degree. People with a background in science can have a successful career in this field.

12. Geoscientist

Average salary: $94,000 annually

A geoscientist is often involved in the monitoring and discovery of lands suitable for commercial agriculture.

They often determine the suitability of the soil for growth and work closely with other scientists to predict crop yield.

They also work with oil and gas reserves to see if it is commercially safe to extract.

The role requires technically skilled individuals who have advanced degrees in chemistry and engineering.

Big oil corporations and natural gas firms employ geoscientists to conduct research for them. This is a highly profitable and rewarding career.

13. Environmental Engineer

Average salary: Around $89,000 a year, although the top 25% earn well over six figures annually

Like the geoscientist, the environment engineer works with natural resources to optimize their commercial use.

Environmental engineers are usually the people who conduct the resource excavation. They work closely with oil refineries and must be skilled with advanced equipment.

This profitable career requires advanced training in an engineer-related field and a degree in physics or a math-related area.

14. Landscape Architect

Average salary: Around $81,000 a year, but you can certainly earn more if you land the right contracts

While architects study and design buildings for both commercial and private use, a landscape architect works specifically with outdoor projects.

The design of parks, conservation spaces and agricultural areas are some of the areas that landscape architects work in.

Some landscape architects also work as independent agents who draw up designs for big corporations. You do not have to be attached to a company to be successful in this role.

You will need a degree in architecture and experience before specializing in landscape architecture.

15. Forest Firefighter

Average salary: Around $38,000 a year

In this role, you will be responsible for using advanced equipment to put out forest and wildlife fires. It is a dangerous role and requires a lot of training.

Forest firefighters can work all over the globe.

You do not need a degree in this field, but you must be physically fit to handle the equipment and the dangerous scenarios.

This role suits individuals with a background in firefighting and who are looking for a job that puts them at the heart of a challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Working outdoors is particularly rewarding for anyone who hates the idea of being stuck between four walls.

The careers listed in this article are all accessible with the right training and degrees.

Environmental management and climate conservation roles are some of the most popular outdoor roles.

Take the right courses to begin your steps towards a prosperous and exciting career working outdoors.