7 Careers for People Who Want to Work Outside

If sitting at a desk all day doesn't appeal to you, there are real career paths built around working outdoors—in forests, on farms, across field sites, and through national parks. Here's a practical look at seven of them, ranging from hands-on labor roles to science and design careers, with education requirements and income data pulled directly from BigFuture's career profiles.

Geoscientists

A geoscientist studies the composition, structure, and physical aspects of the Earth. Their work includes exploring oil, gas, minerals, and underground water, as well as addressing environmental problems like waste disposal and land reclamation. The role spans specialties including mineralogy, paleontology, seismology, and geodesy and much of it conducted in the field.

Typical education: master's or professional degree
 Median pay: $99,812
 Job growth: +4.71%

Landscape Architects

A landscape architect plans and designs land areas for parks, recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, and commercial and residential sites. The work combines design thinking with site analysis, construction oversight, and client collaboration. A significant portion of the role is outdoors on jobsites.

Typical education: bachelor's degree
 Median pay: $74,664
 Job growth: +5.40%

Conservation Scientists

A conservation scientist manages, improves, and protects natural resources. Some of the work includes conducting soil surveys, developing plans to reduce erosion, and advising farmers and ranchers on land management practices like crop rotation, contour plowing, and terracing.

Typical education: bachelor's degree
 Median pay: $67,779
 Job growth: +4.86%

Park Naturalists

A park naturalist plans, develops, and conducts programs that inform the public about the historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local parks. The work involves leading field trips, explaining regulations, answering visitor questions, and coordinating with park staff on programming.

Typical education: bachelor's degree
 Median pay: $67,779
 Job growth: +4.86%

Foresters

A forester manages forest lands and forest resources. Their responsibilities include planning conservation projects for wildlife habitats and soil and water quality, negotiating contracts for forest harvesting and leasing, and monitoring compliance with government regulations.

Typical education: bachelor's degree
 Median pay: $70,542
 Job growth: +2.92%

Forest and Conservation Workers

A forest and conservation worker performs the hands-on labor needed to develop, maintain, and protect forests, wetlands, and woodlands. Tasks include planting and transporting seedlings, fighting insects and pests harmful to plant life, and building structures to control erosion and water flow.

Typical education: high school diploma or less
 Median pay: $41,194
 Job growth: +6.49%

Farmworkers

A farmworker manually plants, cultivates, and harvests vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops. Duties may also include tilling soil, applying fertilizers, transplanting and pruning crops, applying pesticides, and packing and loading harvested products.

Typical education: high school diploma or less
 Median pay: $34,153
 Job growth: +2.34%

One Last Thing

Outdoor careers span a wide range of education levels, income, and day-to-day work. Whether you're drawn to field science, land management, or hands-on labor, there's more than one path worth considering.

Take some time to explore careers on the BigFuture career search page and see which roles actually feel like something you'd want to do every day.

All income, education, and job growth data sourced from BigFuture career profiles, which draw on O*NET (Occupational Information Network) data from the U.S. Department of Labor.