5 Well-Paying Jobs for People Who Want To Be Outside

Ready to take on a line of work that gives you the opportunity to spend most of your days outside? There are several well-paying jobs for those who love the great outdoors, some of which may not require a degree or a great deal of prior work experience either. 

From landscaping to astronomy, consider exploring these five careers.

A wind turbine technician installs, maintains and repairs wind turbines. The profession ranks No. 1 in best maintenance and repair jobs by U.S. News & World Report and No. 5 in the best jobs without a college degree. Most wind turbine technicians receive on-the-job training in their roles. Generally, their work is outdoors but it is also pretty high up too. (If you have a fear of heights, this might not be the role for you!)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 68% from 2020 to 2030. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The median 2021 pay for wind turbine technicians is $56,260 per year, according to BLS.

Are you fascinated by the earth and want to study its land, features and inhabitants? Consider becoming a geographer. 

Most entry-level positions for geographers do require a bachelor’s degree. However, this degree is well worth the investment. The BLS said the median annual wage for geographers was $85,220 in 2021. Geographers are also able to do fieldwork, which allows them to travel to remote locations and foreign countries. It is also a career where employment is largely stable with the BLS projecting little to no changes in geographer employment between 2020 to 2030.

Landscapers enjoy a wide variety of responsibilities and are usually in high demand year-round for residential and commercial properties. Some of these may include planting trees and shrubbery, watering plants, fertilizing and constructing patios and walkways. According to U.S. News & World Report, landscapers rank second place in the best maintenance and repair jobs.

While a landscaper’s pay varies depending on your location, this job ranks number eight in U.S. News & World Report’s best jobs without a college degree. If landscaping doesn’t sound like the best fit for you, consider looking into the option of becoming a groundskeeper or working in a lawn care side hustle.

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree and some previous construction experience may decide to explore a career as a construction manager. While construction managers may have a main office, they are able to spend most of their time in field offices. This allows managers to monitor and supervise construction projects and activities. 

The BLS said as of May 2021, the median annual wage for construction managers was $98,890. Overall, employment in the field is projected to increase. This growth will be 11% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

Those fascinated by the cosmos may seek out a career as an astronomer or physicist to further study matter and energy.

Of all the jobs listed in this roundup, becoming an astronomer comes with a lengthy list of requirements. You may need to obtain a Ph.D. prior to working in the role, or a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in physics for an entry-level physicist job. The workload often exceeds a 40-hour workweek and requires spending time in research laboratories and observatories. However, the BLS reported the median annual wage for astronomers was $128,160 in May 2021. Employment for astronomers, and physicists, is also projected to grow by 8% from 2020 to 2030. 

And while most of the data collected and tests performed are not technically Earth-specific, astronomers are able to develop theories and learn more about the other great outdoors beyond us: outer space, planets, stars and moons.