10 Best Jobs For People Who Love Nature

If you love nature and want to get a job where you can be outside all day, keep reading.

In this article, we have a list of 10 of the best jobs for people who love nature, as well as information on the benefits of working in nature.

Key Takeaways:

• A job that works directly with nature may be for you if you have a green thumb, like to spend time outdoors, or enjoy spending your day doing hands-on work.

• Working with living things can be very rewarding and entertaining, especially if you don’t want to spend your days behind a desk.

• Working in nature helps alleviate depression, decrease stress, and strengthen your immune system.

Best 10 jobs in nature

Here is a list of nature professions, as well as the qualifications you may need for each one.

1. Groundskeeper
   Average Annual Salary: $26,000

   If you’re looking for a job in nature that doesn’t require you to move out of the city or suburbs, consider working as a groundskeeper. In this role, you’d spend your days outside pulling weeds, mowing and fertilizing, trimming trees and shrubs, and planting flowers for a property.

   Being a groundskeeper is a great career for nature lovers, as it lets you work closely with the plants and natural environments surrounding homes and businesses.

   Qualifications: Most groundskeepers do not need a college education, but experience in landscaping is always a plus.

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2. Nature Photographer
   Average Annual Salary: $49,000

   One of the best jobs that involve exploring nature is a nature photographer. In this position, you will be immersing yourself in a natural habitat and capturing the beauty that can be found there. It’s a perfect role for someone who likes to observe nature rather than interfere.

   You can sell prints of your photos independently, or submit them to educational or artistic publications that pay professionals to show off the beauty of nature.

   Qualifications: To become a nature photographer, you need to have experience working with professional-grade cameras and lenses and understand the principles of good photography.

   A fine arts degree can be a great way to gain these skills, but photography classes can do the same thing if you do not have the time or money to obtain a four-year degree.

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3. Landscaper
   Average Annual Salary: $26,000

   Landscapers know how to work closely with nature to create beautiful and sustainable yards, open spaces, parks, and gardens. These professionals plan and implement landscape designs that not only look attractive but are healthy for the plants and land within them.

   A landscaping career allows you to work with your hands and use your creativity to make outdoor areas as usable and beautiful as possible. You’d also often help maintain these spaces, giving you even more time outside in nature.

   Qualifications: To become a landscaper, you need to have a working knowledge of plants as well as how to operate tools and machinery. It’s a good idea to apply for an apprenticeship so you can get on-the-job training, and many landscapers obtain trade school certificates or bachelor’s degrees as well.

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4. Horticulturist
   Average Annual Salary: $34,000

   If you are looking for scientific jobs that have to do with nature, horticulture may be the way to go. Horticulturists are basically garden scientists: They focus on improving the growth of plants, whether that be increasing a crop’s yield or developing a plant that is resistant to certain diseases.

   Horticulturists work alongside other scientists as well as agriculturalists, landscapers, architects, and park managers. In short, their job is to make sure plants are growing in the best way possible.

   Qualifications: To become a horticulturist, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, biology, botany, or a related field.

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5. Park Ranger
   Average Annual Salary: $43,000

   For those looking for jobs that involve exploring nature, being a park ranger may be a great fit. Park rangers manage national and state parks, campsites, and outdoor attractions. They are charged with protecting the wildlife in the park as well as protecting those visiting the park.

   They can also give tours of the park, highlighting the area’s most beautiful and interesting wildlife.

   Park rangers spend their entire day outside, which makes it a perfect job for a nature-lover, especially one who is knowledgeable about native plants and animals.

   Qualifications: Park rangers typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, recreation and tourism management, natural resource management, or a related field, as well as experience working as a volunteer or intern park ranger.

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6. Surveyor
   Average Annual Salary: $54,000

   For people who love nature and have an eye for detail, surveying is an excellent job option. Surveyors document the location of legal property lines, which governments and developers use for official records and construction projects.

   Because they’re the ones marking lines and boundaries, surveyors usually work outside and can even work in the wild where there are yet to be big housing developments or industrial parks.

   Qualifications: To become a surveyor, a bachelor’s degree in surveying and mapping, civil engineering, or a related field is usually needed, and you must become licensed for the state where you’re working.

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7. Environmental Engineer
   Average Annual Salary: $66,000

   If you care about nature and want to protect it, you might enjoy working as an environmental engineer. Environmental engineers use their knowledge of engineering, biology, and chemistry to design systems that protect and manage environmental resources such as water and land.

   Environmental engineers may work on systems for recycling, waste disposal, water, and pollution control, and they can work for municipalities or companies to help them make environmentally friendly decisions.

   Qualifications: Because of the significant amount of knowledge they need, a bachelor’s degree in engineering is usually required to become an environmental engineer. Some people choose to obtain a master’s degree as well.

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8. Botanist
   Average Annual Salary: $58,000

   If you love studying nature, botany can be a great field to go into. Botanists are plant scientists who study the relationship plants have with their environment.

   Much like horticulturists, some botanists are helpful to the agricultural industry, as they can help determine the strengths and weaknesses of a certain crop, as well as how to grow a crop to maximize its yield.

9. Botanists also study the relationship plants have with other organisms, from those as small as bacteria to the larger animals that consume the plants for energy.

   Qualifications: Becoming a botanist typically requires a master’s degree in plant science, biology, or something similar. Advanced research positions may require a doctoral degree.

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10. Conservationist
    Average Annual Salary: $60,660

    Conservationists love nature and choose to dedicate their careers to protecting it. Conservationists come from many disciplinary backgrounds and can complete their job in several ways.

    For example, a conservationist with a background in law or politics could assist the government in making environmentally conscious decisions, or a conservationist who has experience educating others can work by informing others of how they can contribute to conservationist efforts.

    Furthermore, there are conservational scientists who practice conservation in a lab setting. They are typically responsible for the research and development of conservation methods and their effectiveness.

    Qualifications: To become a conservationist, at least a bachelor’s degree will be needed, usually in biology, ecology, or agricultural science.

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11. Recreation Manager
    Average Annual Salary: $43,000

    Recreation management is a great career if you love nature and want to help others enjoy it as well.

    A recreation manager oversees the operations and activities at summer camps, parks, recreation centers, schools, and more. They organize community events and lead activities designed to help people enjoy the outdoors.

    Qualifications: Recreation manager positions will typically require a bachelor’s degree in business or management, and having experience with educating people is also a plus.

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The benefits of working in nature

Nature can be healing, both on a physical and a spiritual level. Studies have shown the benefits of spending time outdoors, which can:

• Alleviate depression

• Decrease stress

• Strengthen your immune system

It’s official: humans are meant to spend time outside instead of underneath fluorescent lights and in air-conditioned rooms.

Both our bodies and our minds benefit from us working in nature. Making a career out of spending time under the sun may seem too good to be true, but there are many ways you can bring nature and your professional life together.

Jobs in nature FAQ

1. What are good jobs for people who like to be outside?

   Good jobs for people who like to be outside include:

   • Groundskeeper

   • Nature photographer

   • Landscaper

   • Horticulturist

   • Park ranger

   • Surveyor

   • Environmental Engineer

   • Botanist

   • Conservationist

   • Recreation manager

2. What is the happiest job in America?

   The happiest job in America is agriculture, logging, and forestry. Workers in these industries report the highest levels of happiness of any occupation and the lowest levels of stress. Many attribute these results — at least in part — to getting to work outside in nature.

Final thoughts

If you are someone who truly enjoys nature, there is no shortage of positions that can help you turn your passion into a way of making a living.

Jobs in nature can be especially attractive to those who cannot see themselves working a nine-to-five in a cubicle. Getting outdoors and interacting with the natural world around you can be a rewarding way to earn income, as well as a way to improve your physical and mental health.

References

1. Yale Environment 360 – Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health

2. University of Minnesota – How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.