Do Environmentalists and Humanitarians make good money?!?!

Question

Besides getting the satisfaction of doing good for the world, do they make good careers? Please help! Thank you!

Answer 1

It depends in what way you are involved in these efforts. There is not one path for being a humanitarian or environmentalist... it is an umbrella term not a career. Those who make their living say as environmental lawyers, biologists or scientists employed by agencies or the government or those who are university faculty that focus their work on environmental or humanitarian concerns... they make a good living. Those who do grassroots movements and similar exercises hardly earn anything from it.  

Answer 2

If they do, it's from their day jobs.

These terms do not refer to a job career, but rather a mind-set.  

People who do this are generally scholars, scientists, or philanthropists who are already rich and use their knowledge and/or wealth for humanitarian and environmentalist endeavors.  

Bill Gates and Horace Potter come to mind.

Answer 3

These are not careers...you can make a decent living working as a wildlife biologist, environmental scientist, etc. where you will be working to help save the environment and endangered species.  You would need at least a Bachelor of Science to have such a career majoring in biology, zoology, wildlife management, wildlife studies, or environmental science, etc.  

Answer 4

In all honesty, it's not too easy to find stable, well-paid work in the green collar field. However, it is possible, it just takes time to build up the experience, gain the skills and make the connections (true of many professions).

I have a number of colleagues doing things like consulting (some for their own firms, some as staff for others), various roles in ENGOs (Environmental non-governmental organizations), or working with and for different governmental agencies, and all are doing quite well. All had to work their way up the ladder too.

Also, I have a fantastic job as an 'ecological technician' with a local college (I'm staff, not faculty there). Despite being only part-time, the salary covers my living expenses and tuition (I'm doing a PhD in environmental studies, and plan to have a green collar career). I also get benefits.  

My job involves field research in the summer and developing and implementing environmental education workshops (given mostly to local schools) during the rest of the year.

Like my job, and those of many of my friends 'Jack/Jill of all trades' is typical of environmental work - stewardship coordinators, consultants, even biologists all have to do things like apply for funding and communicate results to stakeholders as well as the ecological side of things.

The key to 'good' environmental jobs is that most require a wide variety of skills (as you can imagine, it's a different skill set bush-whacking in the forest than building bird boxes with grade 1s). So, if you're serious about becoming an environmentalist, work developing your skills in a number of areas (communications, bookeeping, marketing, as well as ecology).  It also doesn't hurt to have first aid qualifications. Some people get their 'RPBio' qualifications (Registered Professional Biologist). It depends on what you're aiming to do, whether you should consider this or not.

A great way to gain skills, knowledge and contacts is to volunteer with environmental groups in your community.  It's win-win, get skills, make friends, network, and help the environment all at once (and many groups also give you snacks at the end of the work day).

All that said, some great advice given to me by my favourite high school teacher was that you should do what you love and the money will follow. I unfortunately took his advice a little late. First I worked in a 'good', 'safe' civil service job (finance, not environment) that I absolutely hated. Plus, it was three years of 6 mos-at-a-time contracts, with no benefits. FINALLY, I went back to school, learnt to do what I love, and yes, struggled a bit, but am also finally stable and doing what I love - and something that is much more fulfilling than what I had been doing before.

You can too, just be brave, have faith in yourself, and start getting to know the people who are doing it (they can help you with advice about education, opportunities, etc.)

Good luck!