Highest Paying Outdoor Jobs

Would you rather spend your days out in the forest than stuck in a cubicle? Do you long to explore your natural environment?

Outdoors jobs are often shrugged off as being poorly paid, but, in reality, there are a number of well-compensated positions that don't involve any office work. If you love the outdoors and never want to leave, you might as well make it your career. If money matters, too, then one of these careers may be for you.

Here Are CareerExplorer's Top Jobs for People Who Love the Outdoors:

This article will be covering the following careers:

Career	Avg Salary	Satisfaction
Marine Engineer	$114k	3.3/5
Mining and Geological Engineer	$110k	3.3/5
Geologist	$92k	3.3/5
Biomass Power Plant Manager	$126k	??
Construction Manager	$70k	3.0/5
Civil Engineer	$85k	2.9/5
Shipmate	$98k	3.2/5
Special Agent	$107k	3.8/5
Farm Manager	$42k	3.7/5

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1. Marine Engineer

Marine engineers spend a huge part of their time out on the open ocean. These skilled professionals design, test, build, and repair boats, submarines, and ships of all sizes. It's a social job that often involves coordinating with naval architects and other professionals. But it's also creative and detail-oriented work, involving tasks such as blueprint creation, engine design, and prototype testing.

A marine engineer is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, boats, offshore platforms, and related maritime structures.

2. Mining and Geological Engineer

Most mining and geological engineers work in mining operations in remote locations: small towns surrounded by vast natural landscapes. They spend much of their day outside, exploring current or future mining sites to assess their safety and functionality, as well as supervising the construction of new tunnels, mine shafts, and other essential operational components.

A mining and geological engineer specializes in the study, design, and management of mining operations and geological projects.

3. Geologist

Geologists are experts in many aspects of the earth: the materials of which it is comprised, the forces that act upon it, and the biology of its ancestral inhabitants. They spend their days investigating its history in hopes of better understanding current and future geological occurrences. Although they may work in classrooms, laboratories, and offices from time to time, most of their work takes place outdoors, in the field.

A geologist studies the Earth, its history, and the processes that shape and change it.

4. Biomass Power Plant Manager

Although most biomass power plant managers spend at least some time in an office, almost half of them spend at least part of every workday outdoors. Professional biomass power plant managers supervise every aspect of the plant's operations: tracking how much energy it produces and uses, ensuring daily tasks are completed in compliance with official regulations, testing and repairing essential equipment, and more.

Satisfaction

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A biomass power plant manager is responsible for overseeing the operations and management of a power generation facility that utilizes biomass as a primary fuel source.

5. Construction Manager

If you are both people-oriented and outdoorsy, construction manager may be an ideal career for you. Also referred to as "general contractors" or "project managers," these skilled professionals work on a variety of different building projects, collaborating with architects, carpenters, and other construction workers to bring a project to completion. While they do spend some time indoors, a significant portion of their work takes place outside, at the construction site itself.

A construction manager oversees and coordinates construction projects.

6. Civil Engineer

Civil engineers are responsible for designing public works such as dams, buildings, bridges, and other large infrastructure constructions. To do their job well, they need to be comfortable both in an office and out in the field. While some of their work involves executing detailed calculations and designs, they also make frequent trips to construction sites and other outdoor locations to monitor progress, resolve onsite problems, and supervise teams.

A civil engineer specializes in the design, construction, and maintenance of various infrastructure projects and systems.

7. Shipmate

If your love nothing more than a day out at sea, a career as a shipmate might be for you. Also known as "merchant mariners," these highly trained seamen maintain and operate ships of various sizes and professional purposes. They may head out for just a few hours to ferry passengers from shore shore, or find themselves on cargo voyages that extend for several months at a time. But no matter what their specific role, these hardworking individuals enjoy fresh air and open waters on an almost daily basis.

In the U.S.

8. Special Agent

Special agents are investigators or detectives who work to collect evidence against alleged criminal violations on behalf of a government agency. While this isn't typically the first job that comes to mind when people think of outdoor careers, it can involve a great deal of time out in the field, in all kinds of weather conditions. Travel is a also big part of the job, as special agents are required to go to the location of whatever operation they are investigating.

In the United States, a special agent is a highly trained and skilled law enforcement officer who works for a federal agency.

9. Farm Manager

For people who love the sight of a flourishing corn field, a career as a farm manager is an ideal choice. This is a leadership position, as farm managers are responsible for supervising all aspects of a farming operation. They work with other farming staff to take care of livestock; fertilize, cultivate, and harvest crops; and ensure that all aspects of the farm are running smoothly.

A farm manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and strategic management of a farm.